The Hon. John Francis MCGRATH (1893 - 1971)

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

Position	Start	End	Period	Parliament
Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly	10 May 1941	16 Feb 1959	17yr(s) 9mth(s) 7day(s)
Member for Rockdale	10 May 1941	24 Apr 1944	2yr(s) 11mth(s) 15day(s)	33rd (1941 - 1944)
Member for Rockdale	27 May 1944	29 Mar 1947	2yr(s) 10mth(s) 3day(s)	34th (1944 - 1947)
Member for Rockdale	3 May 1947	22 May 1950	3yr(s) 20day(s)	35th (1947 - 1950)
Member for Rockdale	17 Jun 1950	14 Jan 1953	2yr(s) 6mth(s) 29day(s)	36th (1950 - 1953)
Member for Rockdale	14 Feb 1953	6 Feb 1956	2yr(s) 11mth(s) 24day(s)	37th (1953 - 1956)
Member for Rockdale	3 Mar 1956	16 Feb 1959	2yr(s) 11mth(s) 14day(s)	38th (1956 - 1959)
Minister without portfolio	23 Feb 1953	2 Sep 1954	1yr(s) 6mth(s) 11day(s)
Minister for Housing	2 Sep 1954	15 Mar 1956	1yr(s) 6mth(s) 14day(s)
Secretary for Public Works	15 Mar 1956	1 Apr 1959	3yr(s) 18day(s)

Political Party Activity

Australian Labor Party (ALP). Member of West Arncliffe Branch.

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.

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.

Additional Information

Last modified 15/09/2008 13:30:06 : Update this page