The elderly lady whose image is seen on the $20 note is renowned as "the convict girl who became a successful businesswoman".

When she received a grant for Burrier in 1824, it was one of the first land grants to be made south of the Shoalhaven River.

As Mary Haydock she had been transported in 1792 for stealing a horse, and it was that mode of transport that she used (aged 51) when she came to inspect her Burrier land in 1828.

While she regarded that ride as one of the major achievements of her life, her subsequent trips were made by ship.

On her death in 1855 the Burrier property and that of Illaroo passed to grandsons James Thomson and John Atkinson.

Thomson who bought out his cousin, became the district's first parliamentary representative, elected in 1856.

He defended his grandmother's reputation, and was adamant that she had not been a convict, but had travelled to Botany Bay under the care of a clergyman (probably Rev. Johnson).

On the death of her father in a fall from horse, she became an orphan who was placed under the guardianship of some relatives, including an older sister.

She considered herself to be tyrannically and cruelly treated by them, and aged 13 decided to run away from the unhappy home.

There was no denying she took from a neighbouring field, the horse that she had been accustomed to riding.

Within two years of her arrival, Mary married Thomas Raby, who altered his name to Reibey, and they had seven children.

James Thomson was close to his grandmother, living in her home for some years, and she sent him to be educated at "old Cape's school" and then to the Sydney College, under Cape.

Mary confided in young James, and many years later (1897) as the last surviving grandson he related some of her memories in a letter written from Burrier.

Widowed in 1811, she expanded the business affairs established by her husband, opened a new warehouse in George Street, Sydney and extended her shipping operations with the purchase of additional vessels.

She travelled to Britain in 1819-20 to dispose of property she had inherited in her native Blackburn (Lancashire), and also spent some time in Scotland.

Before returning to Australia, she invested in goods she considered suitable for the Sydney market, and she did well out of these.

The one exception was a "handsome coach" for which she could not find a buyer.

While her business sense was undoubted, her assessment of land in different areas may have been suspect.

This was borne out when she went to see the Governor of the day, in an effort to get a land grant in the Sydney region.

She eventually took a grant on the Hawkesbury River, but there had been other options as related by Thomson.

"There's Woolloomooloo, Mrs Reibey," said the Governor. "Wouldn't feed a bandicoot," said Mrs R.

"Try North Shore," said the Governor. "Have as much as you like there." All rocks and stones, said she.

Even with the benefit of hindsight, it is doubtful that Mary Reibey would have had any regrets.

Her image on the banknote is based on the only known portrait of her, a miniature watercolour held at the State Library of NSW.