[3] Allen was dismissed from his apprenticeship to an engineers' firm after supporting early closing and the eight-hour day.
His sister Eliza Pottie (née Allen), who was active in social reform causes, supported his campaign for a shorter workday.
[4] He worked as an engineer, goldminer, farmer, printer, manufacturer and insurance salesman before his father's death in 1869 led him to take over the family business with his brother William Johnston Allen.
[7] William was narrowly elected in a by-election in 1888,[8] thereby sitting on the opposite side of the Legislative Assembly to Alfred.
[10] The multi-member electorates were abolished in 1894 and Allen stood as an independent free trade candidate for Waverley, but was defeated.