He took an interest in the development of dairy co-operatives in the region and became a successful butter factory manager, at the Bengelala Dairy Company and Foley Bros. Cambewarra factories, then Foley Bros. creamery in Sydney, before becoming district manager of the Australian Dairying Company Ltd in the Manning River area for three years.

[1][2][3][4][5] In 1906, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Anti-Socialist member for Moreton.

[6][2][7][8][9] After his retirement, he was contracted by the federal government as one of a number of butter factory representatives to visit England and make arrangements to contract with the British Government to purchase Australia's surplus butter.

He later retired to Melbourne, where he died at his North Fitzroy home in 1926; he had reportedly been in "indifferent health" for some time.

[13] His niece Zara Dare in 1931 became one of the first two female police officers in Queensland.