Hubert Murray was a soldier and colonial administrator. Although starting his working life as a legal draftsman for the New South Wales parliament, Murray decided to lead a more adventurous life and initially pursued his interest in the volunteer movement. By 1898 he was in command of the New South Wales Irish rifles, which led to him being commissioned as a Lieutenant-Colonel with the Australian Forces mounted infantry brigade during the Boer war. He later held the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the Australian forces and of major in the Imperial service.
Between 1904 and 1908 Murray served as a judge in the Territory of Papua (1904-1907). In 1908 he was appointed the Territory's Lieutenant-Governor. He remained in this position up until his death.