Having returned to Queensland, in the late 1890s, he was working as a chemist on his father's sugar farm at
Windermere, Queensland (near
Bundaberg). He married May Evelyn Wright on 12 June 1901 at the Nott family home at Windermere; their only child (an unnamed daughter) died shortly after birth in 1904. Between about 1898 and 1903 Nott was involved in assaying and managing a
cyanide works for the extraction of gold at
Nelson (near
Cairns, Queensland). For about two years, Nott worked as a chemistry demonstrator and assistant analytical chemist at the
Queensland Agricultural College at
Gatton under Mr. J. Bailnich. While at Bundaberg, Nott took an active interest in shire council and other public matters, in the butter factory directorate, and the control of the
Bundaberg Rum Distillery (his late father was one of the founders). Later the families' sugar mill and plantation, Windemere Estate was sold to the Millaquin Sugar Company, and his own property, the Grange Plantation, to the Fairymeade Sugar Company. Leaving Bundaberg, Nott took up sheep-raising and wool-growing in the
Charleville, Queensland area for a number of years, and after selling out there went to the
Toogoolawah district in Queensland. While there he became active in trying to improve the price of milk, the conditions of the farmers, and the supply of milk to the
Nestlé Company. ==Politics==