Bamford was born in Dubbo, New South Wales and educated at Toowoomba, Queensland.

In July 1872, he began a building and carpentry partnership in Mackay with a colleague from Toowoomba; however, the partnership was dissolved that December after a falling-out, and he thereafter operated a furniture shop in Mackay before being declared bankrupt in April 1884.

[1][2][3] Bamford narrowly won the House of Representatives seat of Herbert at the 1901 election as the Australian Labor Party candidate, campaigning specifically against the employment of Kanakas in the North Queensland sugar cane fields.

In parliament, he spoke frequently in support of the White Australia policy and subsidies and protection for the sugar industry.

[1] In July 1915, Bamford became the first member to speak in favour of the introduction of conscription during World War I.