Mackrell was born 16 December 1879. At the age of 14 he worked part-time in a butter factory in Mansfield, at 18 he managed the Fish Creek butter factory and he subsequently managed the Buln Buln butter factory in Melbourne. From 1901 to 1905 he was a prospector, carpenter and engine driver on the W.A. goldfields. He then returned to Victoria to work for J. Bartram and Son travelling and erecting milk separators. In 1908 he went to South Africa for Bartams, managed the Senekal butter factory, then started his own factory at Ficksburg in 1914. In 1916 he returned to Victoria due to Boer hostility and became a grazier at Boho, Haley Park and Burraboi. During his time in Parliment (ca. 1924-1945) he was Assistant Minister of Railways, Minister of Sustenance, Minister of Labour, Minister of Public Health and Minister of Water Supply and Decentralisation.
From the description of Reminiscences and letters. 1908-ca. 1965. (Libraries Australia). WorldCat record id: 223265581
