[2] However, the honours program in English did not appeal to her, so she enrolled also in history, studying under Ernest Scott; this second subject would become her favourite after a holiday to Tasmania at the end of her first year, when she was inspired by a visit to the ruins of Port Arthur.

[1] The following year she became a tutor in English at her alma mater, a position she held until 28 August 1932, when she married journalist Brian Fitzpatrick and was consequently forced to leave her job, as was required of all female academics at the time.

[1] In 1935 she and her husband separated; she applied to the University of Melbourne for a job, but was rebuffed, the Appointments Board advising her that women were only wanted for secretarial work.

[2] Crawford later recalled that he "could see at once that Ernest Scott had sent [him] a winner", and supported Fitzpatrick for the position over a strong field of other candidates, and she was appointed to the lectureship late in 1937, to commence in 1938.

[2] Fitzpatrick taught first-year British history herself, to both the regular and honours students, and assisted with later-year subjects, sharing the entire teaching duties of the department with Webb whenever Crawford was absent.

"[4] Her first area of research, following on from her early interest in Port Arthur, was the colonial-era history of Van Diemen's Land, and she produced several publications on this subject.

[2] Outside of her academic work, Fitzpatrick gave a number of radio talks for adult education programs through the 1940s, covering a variety of history topics.

[2] In retirement, Fitzpartrick accumulated significant wealth generated, in the main, from the financial success of her father, who after a distinguished civil service career culminating as Head of Treasury, Victoria, was recruited to stockbroking by Sir Ian Potter.

[10] In 1983 Fitzpatrick was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University of Melbourne,[5] and in 1989 she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for her services to education, particularly in the field of history.