[4] His first extra-academic appointment was as assayer to the Sunny Corner Silver and Gold Mine in the Bathurst district.
Here his extensive knowledge of both inorganic and organic chemistry proved a remunerative boon to the company, as he introduced cheaper and more convenient methods of treatment.
On this mine he assayed for twelve months, and then resolved to exploit the Kimberley region in Western Australia.
Success, however, was moderate, and he returned to Sydney in 1889, and accepted the post of metallurgist in the Kohinoor Mine at Captain's Flat, near Braidwood.
His next role was the managerial trust of the Nambucca's Head Gold Mine, situated in the Macleay district.
[4] He returned to Western Australia in August, 1893, and immediately after his arrival, started practice in Perth as a mining and consulting engineer.
The company, which was floated on the London market by member of the Western Australian Legislative Council Henry Saunders, had possession of extensive real estate and various properties that necessitated Backhouse travelling over large portions of the colony.
The subsidiary companies now owning these invested large capital in them, and add the degree of "limited" after their names.
Despite Backhouse's flood of business he found time for patronising various kinds of sport, including as vice-president of The Rugby Football Club of Coolgardie and as patron or honorary office-bearer of various others.