"[9] He returned to writing by chance, forced to stop riding "owing to a severe fall,"[1] which kicked off a long and prolific - not to mention distinctly nomadic - career as a journalist, author and playwright.
He wrote for various major newspapers in Sydney[1][7] including a return to The Empire,[10] until the death of his first son in March 1863 appears to have been the catalyst for another upheaval.
The family moved to Brisbane, Queensland where Robert did not have fixed employment but "between free lancing and acting on the stage, he eked out a precarious Bohemian living.
[7] It has been contended[7] that Whitworth was really the author, giving Clarke the editing credit as a deliberate act of generosity, being a "good and generous friend"[7] as Marcus was a sub-librarian at the public library in Melbourne at the time, angling for the top job of librarian, but unlike Robert had no credits to his name in editing or non-fiction.
In the event, it did not help: Marcus was passed over for promotion on the incumbent's death in 1880, and his subsequent neglect of his work, health and finances lead to illness and bankruptcy.
Though rarely credited for it, Robert Whitworth was also a decent but modest artist: he contributed sketches for illustrations in newspapers[16] and books.
[18] His younger son was born in its principal city, Dunedin, and his middle name (which became the surname of his stage persona) reflects the name of the Hollyford River.