Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(Aus.) a general helper, esp. in a public house; thus boots-and-useful, one whose jobs involve cleaing guests’ shoes and boots as well as a variety of odd jobs.

1875		Express & Teleg (Adelaide) 9 Dec. 2/1: [advert] A YOUNG MAN, just arrived, WANTS EMPLOYMENT as BOOTS and generally useful, ‘C. C.,’ Advertiser Office. z344.
1885		Bulletin (Sydney) 31 Oct. 22/1: Joe’s vision of a roadside pub., with pretty Mary as landlady, himself as ‘boss,’ and a score [...] of ‘usefuls’ to fly round when the mail drew up to change horses, melted into thin air.
1887		Argus (Melbourne 13 Dec. 12/1: COOKSON’S Offices, Boots and useful Man, 20s, hotel, suburbs, experienced Yardman.
1900		Dly Teleg. (Sydney) 19 Nov. 8/2: A BOOTS and Useful, 15/-. first-class hotel, ctry., tips.
1901		Bulletin (Sydney) 21 Dec. 13/1: Last week, in a Sydney hotel which considers itself of the better class, but where there is no ‘useful’ or yard-man kept, I found a girl who started work at 4:30a.m. on weekdays and 5:30a.m. on Sundays.
1912		Bulletin (Sydney) 7 Nov. 13/2: John took a job as a boots-and-useful in a Colac (Vic.) hotel, and was presently requested by the licensee’s wife to wash the dishes. [...] This writer has known ‘usefuls’ who, without demur, polished the knives, chopped wood, dug the garden, cleaned the canary’s cage, and performed other light exercises.
1949		R. Park Poor Man’s Orange 247: I been with her for fifteens years [...] I been her useful for that long.