In what year were women legally allowed to sign contracts in New South Wales?

Answer 1

You have asked a complicated question since married, widowed and unmarried women were treated differently under the common law of earlier times. Married women were granted the ability to enter contracts pursuant to the Married Womens Property Act of 1893. Prior to that time a marriage contract was the last contract a woman could ever enter because she came under the "protection" of her husband and she and her husband were seen as one person. That one person was the husband. The state of being under a husband's protection was called coverture. See related links for more reading.

The rights of unmarried women and widows are another broad topic not addressed here.