Her brother John Palmer was bringing his family to settle permanently in New South Wales, and had previously come to Sydney in 1788 as Purser on the Sirius, the flagship of the First Fleet.
He had also been Commissary General of New South Wales from 1791 to 1811, remaining employed in the Commissariat until he retired in 1819; and he was a magistrate from 1793.
[1] Sophia first settled on John Palmer's 100 acres (40 ha) 1793 grant which he named Woolloomooloo Farm.
Sophia moved to Wharf House, her husband Robert Campbell’s home behind his wharves on the west side of Circular Quay.
Apart from two trips to England (in 1805–06 and 1810–1815) and shorter journeys to various parts of New South Wales, she lived in Sydney until her death.