Born in Hobart, she developed a soprano voice early on and accompanied her mother, opera singer Marie Carandini, on tours, singing with her family troupe.

Musicologist Thérèse Radic wrote that although she was gifted, Palmer was constrained by her social position as a married woman, as was typical of her contemporaries.

[2][7] Four of her sisters joined in later years and they were known as the Carandini Family Troupe, until their father's death led to their mother abandoning the European tour in 1870.

Palmer sang solo parts with low pay in the Melbourne Philharmonic Society and the Liedertafels, as they it was considered improper for a married woman to appear on an opera stage.

[1][6] Palmer joined a traveling quartet as soprano with Armes Beaumont, S. Lamble and Mrs. Cutter in 1872 and they toured Australia and visited New Zealand.

Although she visited the United States, she had to return to Melbourne as her mother had fallen ill.[1][4] To her disappointment, Palmer also had to give up teaching some years before her death.