In 1879, Williamson acquired a one-year exclusive right to perform "H.M.S. Pinafore" in Australia and New Zealand for £300. They began their 1879–80 Australian season with "Struck Oil" and staged the first legitimate Australian production of "Pinafore" at the Theatre Royal, Sydney in November with great success, with the Williamsons playing Sir Joseph Porter and Josephine. In early 1880, Williamson formed his Royal Comic Opera Company. Williamson then acquired the Australian performing rights from the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company for "The Pirates of Penzance" for £1,000 and opened that work at the Theatre Royal Sydney in 1881. Between their appearances in Gilbert and Sullivan operas, James and Maggie Williamson continued to play engagements of "Struck Oil" along with similar popular favourites, "The Danites", "Arrah-na-Pogue", "The Colleen Bawn" and "Rip Van Winkle".