Date of Birth: 01/09/1893
Place of Birth: Chicago, Unites States of America
Date of Death: 20/12/1971
Place of Death: Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
Parliamentary Service
| Secretary for Public Works |
15 Mar 1956 |
01 Apr 1959 |
3 years 18 days |
|
| Member for Rockdale |
03 Mar 1956 |
16 Feb 1959 |
2 years 11 months 14 days |
|
| Minister for Housing |
02 Sep 1954 |
15 Mar 1956 |
1 year 6 months 14 days |
|
| Minister Without Portfolio |
23 Feb 1953 |
02 Sep 1954 |
1 year 6 months 11 days |
|
| Member for Rockdale |
14 Feb 1953 |
06 Feb 1956 |
2 years 11 months 24 days |
|
| Member for Rockdale |
17 Jun 1950 |
14 Jan 1953 |
2 years 6 months 29 days |
|
| Member for Rockdale |
03 May 1947 |
22 May 1950 |
3 years 20 days |
|
| Member for Rockdale |
27 May 1944 |
29 Mar 1947 |
2 years 10 months 3 days |
|
| Member for Rockdale |
10 May 1941 |
24 Apr 1944 |
2 years 11 months 15 days |
|
| Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly |
10 May 1941 |
16 Feb 1959 |
17 years 9 months 7 days |
|
Political Party Activity
Australian Labor Party (ALP). Member of West Arncliffe Branch.
Government Whip 1947 - 1953.
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Publican. Arrived in Sydney with parents at age nine; educated at Patrician Brothers' Mt Carmel school, Waterloo and St Aloysius' College, Milsons Point; apprenticed to an electrician, commenced work as an electrical fitter, joined the Electircal Trades Union; assisted father in his hotel at Redfern; owned own hotel at Rockdale, lost it in the 1930's depression; leased the Bexley hotel, became a proprieter of other hotels in that area; president of Bexley Chamber of Commerce from 1936 until 1970; councillor of United Licensed Victuallers Association; director of New South Wales Community Hospital; director of Food for Babies Fund; generous supporter of Legacy, Red Cross, progress associations and Parents and Citizens Associations; keen sportsman; long association with St George District Rugby League Football Club; trustee of Sydney Cricket Ground in 1952; encouraged young artists and musicians at his hotel.
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Local Government Activity
Alderman at Bexley from 1934 until 1941, Deputy Mayor from 1939 and 1941.
Personal
Son of Patrick James McGrath, publican, and Mary Furlong, Irish Migrants. Married Beryl Hanson on 1 December 1917 and had issue, 1 daughter and 1 son. Roman Catholic. Burial at Waverley cemetery from St Mary's Star of the Sea at the Roman Catholic Church in Watsons Bay.
