He began dealing in cattle and horses in 1876 and spent some time at stations in far western New South Wales and managed them for five years before selling them in the boom of the 1880s.
He began dealing in cattle and horses in 1876 and spent some time at Cooper Creek in western Queensland. Together with his brother George, he bought three stations in far western New South Wales and managed them for five years before selling them in the boom of the 1880s.