Background
Harvey was born at the Moonta Mines and on leaving school found employment with the Moonta Mining and Smelting Company, and learned the trade of moulder.
Harvey was born at the Moonta Mines and on leaving school found employment with the Moonta Mining and Smelting Company, and learned the trade of moulder.
He served as Minister for Education, Mines and Agriculture from 1918 to 1920. Fourteen years he accepted the position of Secretary in the Miners" Union, which covered workers at Moonta, Kadina and Wallaroo. He left Labor to join the new National Party in the 1917 Labor split, and in 1918 he was appointed Education minister in the Coalition government, succeeding Alfred William Styles.
Harvey was forced to resign when the Liberal Union severed the coalition in late 1920.
However, in July 1921 he defected to the Liberal Union himself. He was on the council of the School of Mines
He died after a short illness and was accorded a State Funeral.
Their home for many years was 35 Prescott Avenue, Rose Park.
He held this position for 18 years, then was selected to contest the Central Number.2 seat in the Legislative Council of South Australia, which he won unopposed. The election held to fill his seat in the Legislative Council was narrowly won by industrialist Edward Wheewall Holden for the Liberal and Country League.
He was a member of the South Australian Legislative Council from 1915 to 1935.
