Parliamentary activity
Information about members' parliamentary service including their positions held and biography.
Positions
| Position | Start | End | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secretary for Public Works | Thu 15 March 1956 | Wed 01 April 1959 | 3 years 18 days | |
| Member for Rockdale | Sat 03 March 1956 | Mon 16 February 1959 | 2 years 11 months 14 days | |
| Minister for Housing | Thu 02 September 1954 | Thu 15 March 1956 | 1 year 6 months 14 days | |
| Minister Without Portfolio | Mon 23 February 1953 | Thu 02 September 1954 | 1 year 6 months 11 days | |
| Member for Rockdale | Sat 14 February 1953 | Mon 06 February 1956 | 2 years 11 months 24 days | |
| Member for Rockdale | Sat 17 June 1950 | Wed 14 January 1953 | 2 years 6 months 29 days | |
| Member for Rockdale | Sat 03 May 1947 | Mon 22 May 1950 | 3 years 20 days | |
| Member for Rockdale | Sat 27 May 1944 | Sat 29 March 1947 | 2 years 10 months 3 days | |
| Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly | Sat 10 May 1941 | Mon 16 February 1959 | 17 years 9 months 7 days | |
| Member for Rockdale | Sat 10 May 1941 | Mon 24 April 1944 | 2 years 11 months 15 days |
Biography
Political party activity
Australian Labor Party (ALP). Member of West Arncliffe Branch.
Government Whip 1947 - 1953.
Local Government activity
Alderman at Bexley from 1934 until 1941, Deputy Mayor from 1939 and 1941.
Personal information
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.
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.