 After working for about 18 months on a farm, Withers removed to Melbourne and obtained a position as draughtsman in a firm of printers.During the period of his black and white work, Withers executed, in chalk, portraits for reproduction, that of the Count von Bismark being an especially fine example of his work in this direction.In his spare time Withers sought to cultivate his art, and eventually had work accepted for exhibition in the Old Academy, Melbourne.