[2] Accompanied by his only sister, McDonnell arrived in Brisbane in 1886 and began work as a drapery assistant with Finney, Isles & Co., T. J. Geoghegan, and, from 1889 till 1896, Edwards & Lamb.

[2] Frank McDonnell was a social activist and reformer who advocated for workers' rights, particularly shop assistants.

[5] Elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1896, he repeatedly attempted to pass Early Closing Bills.

[8] Within three months of his retirement from the Assembly in 1907, McDonnell was appointed by the Kidston ministry to the Queensland Legislative Council.

He died in 1928, and his funeral was held at St Stephen's Cathedral and proceeded to the Toowong Cemetery[9] for his burial.