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John McGrath (New South Wales 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 Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch)

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.

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 proprieter 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. McGrath was elected as an alderman on the Bexley Municipal Council at a by-election in 1937, and served until 1944. He was the deputy mayor for three terms in 1938–1941 and served as a Bexley delegate on the St George County Council.

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. 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. In 1947, he was elected Government Whip and served until his promotion to the cabinet in 1953.


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