Career
Elphinstone built many buildings in Glebe, New South Wales and Ashfield, New South Wales at the end of the 19th century. Elphinstone joined the building industry in 1868 as a carpenter under the tutelage of his father. By 1879, he had become an architect and builder.
His development of the Saint Philip"s Church lands in Glebe made him Glebe"s largest building contractor.