F. Wilkinson's school at Sydney, and from 1852 to 1857 was gaining experience on stations in the New England district of New South Wales.

During the next three years he had a wandering life in New South Wales and Victoria, but in 1860 bought the Rodd's Bay station in the Port Curtis District, Queensland.

He resigned his seat in 1868 and did not attempt to enter politics again until in 1878, having previously retired from his station, he was elected unopposed for Port Curtis.

In March 1883, on the resignation of John Murtagh Macrossan, Norton accepted office as Minister for Works and Mines in the First McIlwraith Ministry.

Norton was chairman of committee from 1902 to 1907 and continued to be an active member of the house until a few months before his death.