John McGrath (New South Wales politician)

Australian politician

The Honourable

John McGrath

Secretary for Public Works
In office
15 March 1956 – 1 April 1959
Premier| Joseph Cahill
Preceded by| Jack Renshaw
Succeeded by| Norm Ryan
Deputy Mayor of Bexley
In office
6 December 1938 – 9 December 1941
Mayor| Joseph Barwell
Archibald Macdonald
Preceded by| Joseph Barwell
Succeeded by| Ernest Docos
Alderman of the Bexley Municipal Council
In office
9 January 1937 – 2 December 1944
Preceded by| George Dunstan
Personal details
Born| (1893-09-01)1 September 1893
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died| 20 December 1971(1971-12-20) (aged 78)
Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
Political party| Labor

John Francis McGrath (1 September 1893 – 20 December 1971) was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1941 until 1959. He was a member of the NSW Branch of the Australian Labor Party and held a number of ministerial positions including Minister for Housing.[1]

## Early life and career

[edit]

McGrath was born in Chicago, the son of a publican and migrated with his family to Australia at age nine. He was educated at St Aloysius' College and initially worked as an electrician. He became an official of the Electrical Trades Union but left the industry to become a hotel owner. After owning several hotels, including losing one in Rockdale during the Great Depression, McGrath leased the Bexley Hotel and became a proprietor of other hotels in the Bexley area. McGrath was soon active in community organisations, becoming president of Bexley Chamber of Commerce from 1936 until 1970.[1] McGrath was elected as an alderman on the Bexley Municipal Council at a by-election in 1937, and served until 1944.[2][3][4] He was the deputy mayor for three terms in 1938–1941 and served as a Bexley delegate on the St George County Council.[5][6][7]

## Political career

[edit]

McGrath was the defeated ALP candidate at the 1939 by-election for the seat of Hurstville which was won by Clive Evatt of the Industrial Labor Party.[8] He was eventually elected to the New South Wales parliament as the Labor member for new seat of Rockdale at the 1941 election. He retained the seat for the next five elections and retired at the 1959 election.[9] In 1947, he was elected Government Whip and served until his promotion to the cabinet in 1953.

McGrath held ministerial positions in the government of Joseph Cahill. He was a Minister without portfolio in 1953, and was appointed the Minister for Housing in 1954 and the Secretary for Public Works from 1956 until his retirement. In this role he was responsible for the early construction work on the Sydney Opera House.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "The Hon. John Francis McGrath (1893-1971)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
2. ^ "BEXLEY BY-ELECTION". The St George Call. Vol. XXXIV, no. 3\. New South Wales, Australia. 15 January 1937. p. 1. Retrieved 7 April 2018 - via Trove.
3. ^ "ALD. MCGRATH WELCOMED". The St George Call. Vol. XXXIV, no. 3\. New South Wales, Australia. 15 January 1937. p. 1. Retrieved 7 April 2018 - via Trove.
4. ^ "LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1919". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. No. 29\. New South Wales, Australia. 26 February 1937. p. 929. Retrieved 7 April 2018 - via Trove.
5. ^ "BEXLEY". The Propeller. Vol. XXVIII, no. 1448\. New South Wales, Australia. 8 December 1938. p. 9. Retrieved 7 April 2018 - via Trove.
6. ^ "BEXLEY". The Propeller. Vol. XXX, no. 1552\. New South Wales, Australia. 5 December 1940. p. 3. Retrieved 7 April 2018 - via Trove.
7. ^ "ALD. McGRATH AS M.L.A." The St George Call. Vol. XXXVIII, no. 21\. New South Wales, Australia. 23 May 1941. p. 1. Retrieved 7 April 2018 - via Trove.
8. ^ Green, Antony. "Hurstville by-election 1939". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
9. ^ Green, Antony. "Elections for the District of Rockdale". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 25 June 2020.

Civic offices

Preceded by

Joseph Barwell

|  Deputy Mayor of Bexley
1938 - 1941  | Succeeded by

Ernest Docos

New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New district |  Member for Rockdale
1941 - 1959  | Succeeded by

Brian Bannon

Political offices
Preceded by

Gus Kelly

|  Minister for Housing
1954 - 1956  | Succeeded by

Abe Landa

Preceded by

Jack Renshaw

|  Secretary for Public Works
1956 - 1959  | Succeeded by

Norm Ryan

as Minister for Public Works