Smith is known for her wax cylinder recordings of Aboriginal songs, made in 1903, which constitute the only audio recordings of an indigenous Tasmanian language. Five cylinders were cut; however, in 1949 a Tasmanian newspaper noted that only four remained, as the fifth cylinder, "on which was recorded the translation of the songs, was broken some time ago". Upon hearing her own performance, Smith had cried "My poor race. What have I done"; she believed the voice to be that of her mother.