This paper will examine how Stella Deakin negotiated the challenges that surrounded modern womanhood in early twentieth century Australia. Stella was the daughter of prominent Australian Prime Minister Alfred Deakin and proved to be a talented scientist. Stella had to negotiate the conflicting interests that many young upper class women experienced between their desire for education and careers as New Women and the continued societal and familial expectations that they would become full time wives and mothers after marriage. Between 1904 and 1910 Stella had a successful career, studying and conducting research at the University of Melbourne and in Berlin and London. After her engagement to prominent Australian scientist David Rivett, Stella had to contend with the conflicting interests between her own expectations of continuing her scientific career and her family’s expectations that she should fully devote herself to her husband and family. This paper will analyse the course of Stella’s life and the decisions she made that lead to her life transforming from one of a scientist to becoming a devoted wife, mother and typical upper class woman.