Born at Beaufort, Victoria, to Irish parents, he had a love of the bush.  He was well educated, but shortly after leaving school, went with some friends on a "swagman's" tour of Echuca.  

Trained in the legal profession, he worked in the library for the Supreme Court.   He later worked for the Victorian Government, drafting legislation.  Being a public servant he was not entitled to publicity so wrote under the name of  D Fenton.  In 1934 he refused a knighthood for services to literature.  

He wrote little poetry after 1920.