He won the seat of Parramatta for the Australian Labor Party in 1929, but was defeated by Frederick Stewart in 1931.

[1] Prior to entering politics, Rowe worked in a printing-room, as a compositor, and at the time of his election as one of the readers on the staff of The Sun.

He was also a member of the board of the Printing Industry Union and the secretary of the Sylvania Progress Association.

[2][3] His election in 1929 was unexpected: the local newspaper wrote at the time that Parramatta had "always been looked upon as a National stronghold".

This article about an Australian Labor Party member of the House of Representatives is a stub.