After leaving the college, he specialised in agricultural chemistry, then went to Braunschweig University of Technology in Germany to further his studies in analytical chemistry and technology, specialising in agricultural and sugar chemistry, resulting in the award of a science degree from that institution.
Agriculture and mining
Having returned to Queensland, in the late 1890s, he was working as a chemist on his father's sugar farm at Windermere, Queensland (near Bundaberg).[5] He married May Evelyn Wright on 12 June 1901 at the Nott family home at Windermere;[6] their only child (an unnamed daughter) died shortly after birth in 1904.[7]
Leaving Gatton, Nott went on to reorganise the manufacture of sugar at the Central Mill at Gin Gin, Queensland. From there, he went as chemist to the Central Mill at Mulgrave, Queensland for eight years.[3]
By 1912 he had established his own sugar farm called the Grange Plantation at Woongarra near Bundaberg.[3][9][10][11]
While at Bundaberg, Nott took an active interest in shire council and other public matters, in the butter factory directorate, and the control of the Bundaberg Rum Distillery (his late father was one of the founders). Later the families' sugar mill and plantation, Windemere Estate was sold to the Millaquin Sugar Company, and his own property, the Grange Plantation, to the Fairymeade Sugar Company.[3]
Leaving Bundaberg, Nott took up sheep-raising and wool-growing in the Charleville, Queensland area for a number of years, and after selling out there went to the Toogoolawah district in Queensland. While there he became active in trying to improve the price of milk, the conditions of the farmers, and the supply of milk to the Nestlé Company.[3]