Nellie Bramley

Following financial difficulties and low ticket sales, Bramley filed for bankruptcy in May 1934, with unpaid debts around £3,250 mostly incurred from previous show losses.

The new company began with a successful six month tour New Zealand,[4] before returning to Melbourne with the comedy drama Sunday at the Playhouse.

[13] In June that year, she made a decision to abandon her programme of plays at the Grand Opera House, citing low audience numbers attributed to restricted spending due to the great depression.

After reflecting on her decision and the potential impact in putting 50 people out of work, she changed her mind and decided "to be like Amy Johnson, and see it through".

[15] Following financial difficulties and low ticket sales, Bramley filed for bankruptcy in May 1934, noting her unpaid debts were £3250 with assets worth just £700.

She attributed the situation to meagre takings during some theatrical tours that on some occasions did not even cover theatre rent and advertisement costs.

[8] She visited Christchurch, New Zealand during mid-1935 where she presented Beware of Widows at St James Theatre and was described as "the queen of comedy".

[19] In September 1935, a benefit performance was held in her honour in Auckland following her company closing its season abruptly, yet she chose to stay rather than sailing back to Australia.

[22] Her last professional appearance on stage was around 1943,[7] although she was known to take minor roles in small shows occasionally, such as "A Kiss for Cinderella" in 1947, where she played a queen.

[23] In her later life, she lived with and was cared for[24] by her sister Margarite Adele Allditt in a new-build house, described as a cross between a mansion and a fun fair and in view of Port Jackson.

Her house was devoid of any memorabilia from her days working in theatre and contained many 15th century Chinese items of furniture.

Nellie Bramley, c1924
Nellie Bramley as Empress Josephine, April 1924