Willmott came to Western Australia in 1886, and initially worked on Edward Brockman's property in the South West.

In 1896, Willmott went to Coolgardie to work on the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, supervising the tanks at Niagara and Mulline.

[1] At the 1914 state election, Willmott stood for the newly formed Country Party, defeating the sitting member for the seat of Nelson, Charles Layman.

Willmott was appointed a minister without portfolio in the new ministry, and retained the position until his defeat at the 1921 state election, serving under two more Nationalist premiers (Hal Colebatch and James Mitchell).

[5] Willmott's time out of parliament was short-lived, as within two months he won a Legislative Council by-election for South-West Province, necessitated by the death of Ephraim Clarke.