[1] Augustus Cecil Elphinstone was born on 13 September 1874 in London, England.

After receiving his education at Forest House College, Woodford, he worked briefly for the Bank of England before travelling to Charters Towers, Queensland in 1892.

During this time, he married Louisa Dinah Lloyd on 5 October 1897, with whom he had five children, and he also spent seven years in the British Territorial Army.

During World War I he was involved in several business ventures and served in the Australian Imperial Force for a few months in 1918.

Also in 1918, Elphinstone began his political career, standing for the electoral district of Oxley (Queensland) as a member of the National Party and winning a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland.