Their father believed in giving his daughters 'every educational advantage' and Bear-Crawford was taught by governesses in Australia and England before attending Cheltenham Ladies' College, Gloucestershire.

With the support of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), she formed the Victorian Women's Suffrage (Franchise) League.

Then, on her initiative, the United Council for Women's Suffrage was founded in 1894, with representatives from organizations interested in the cause; she was first president and later honorary secretary.

An accomplished and logical speaker, she trained other women in the art; Vida Goldstein, who accompanied her to meetings, was shown how to handle hecklers and answer questions.

Bear-Crawford constantly addressed WCTU and suffrage meetings and also encouraged women to gain election to school boards of advice.

[citation needed] In November 1898, after a farewell evening at the Prahran Town Hall, she left for England to attend the Women's International Conference.