the 1930s depression, when work was scarce, she was a postmistress at Raglan via Rockhampton from 1930 to 1936. In partnership with her father as A and E Mottram, she worked in Rockhampton in 1937 and later in Longreach 1938–1941, where she was foreman of works for her father for the first stage of construction of the Longreach Hospital (1940). She was employed as a draftswoman with the American Army Engineering Office in North Rockhampton in the Second World War. She later worked with the Queensland Railways and designed Eagle Junction railway station. Other residential commissions by Mottram, included a two-storeyed block of flats in Scott Street at Kangaroo Point (Scott Street Flats), a Tudor Revival residence for Zina Cumbrae-Stewart overlooking the river, and a residence for Mrs Thurlby on the corner of Winchester and Hants Roads, Ascot (now demolished). Of all the buildings designed by early women architects in Queensland (i.e. those practising before World War II) only three survive in Brisbane - Nellie McCredie's house at Wilston (Uanda), the Scott Street Flats and Monkton. In her article, "Designing Women: pioneer architects", historian Judith McKay discusses the manner in which these women designed their buildings. She quotes Florence Taylor as saying "Men build houses but women build homes", and Beatrice Hutton as stating that:"Men don't know how to build houses for women. Think of the cupboards that are either left out or put in the wrong place! And there are many details that only a woman can understand."McKay describes a focus on comfort, simplicity and utility with attractive bay windows and ample storage, as attributes of Mottram's early work, including Monkton. Monkton was built in 1925 on Ardoyne Road to the west of Oxley Road at Corinda for William and Margaret Dunlop who were then only recently married. It was named to commemorate Monkton Farm, William Dunlop's parents' farm which was to the east of Oxley Road. Margaret Dunlop (née Berrie) grew up across the road from the land on which the house was built. The land belonged to Margaret's parents and was given to the young couple as a wedding gift. The Dunlops commissioned Elina Mottram to design a house for the site. Elina, one of only a handful of women practising at the time, had been recommended to them though apparently they did not choose her particularly because she was a woman. Elina described Margaret Dunlop, who