'Frank' Brophy was born at Colvinsley, near Ararat. His family later lived at Stawell. At 13 years of age, Brophy joined the P.M.G. Department and continued in its service at various centres until his retirement 52 years later. For 30 years he was at Ballarat, where he became well known in the Labor movement and in literary circles. Brophy twice contested the State parliamentary seat of Ararat-Stawell, and each time received a substantial minority of the vote. Brophy was active in many Roman Catholic Church Societies, was on the committee of the Bread and Cheese Club and was a member of both the Australian Poetry Lovers' Society and the Henry Lawson Society. On his death, he was buried at Ballarat.
