Arthur Murphy left school at the age of twelve and continued his eduction under his own direction. He worked in a variety of jobs, including farm hand, house painter, freelance journalist and in a lawyer's office. Murphy studied at night and successfully matriculated. He trained as a teacher and gained a scholarship to Melbourne University where he graduated in 1943. Murphy taught at secondary school level and spent fourteen years as a principal.

Murphy's poetry was published in various literary journals and he was for a time literary critic for Southerly (q.v.). R.G. Howarth (q.v.), editor of Southerly for many years, was a friend and mentor.

(Source: Poems of Catullus, 1987)