Born in Carlton (then a thoroughly working-class suburb of Melbourne), Lovegrove left school early, and held a variety of jobs including those of brass foundry worker, shipping office clerk and plasterer.

Subsequently, when he publicly criticised the party, he was administered a severe thrashing in an attack carried out by communist thugs.

Until 1954, he was associated with the hardline anti-communist Industrial Groups; but in that year he decisively broke with them, and remained loyal to the ALP and its leader John Cain (Premier 1952-55) after the 'groupers' were forced out.

He was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly in 1955 as the member for Carlton, transferring to Fitzroy three years later.

For part of that period (1958–67) he was simultaneously Deputy Leader of the Opposition, which during those years was led by Clive Stoneham.