In 1949, he was appointed as Challis Chair of Zoology at the University of Sydney and held the position until he resigned due to illness.
In 1960, he moved to University of New England to allow himself to focus more on zoology than administrative work and also to reduce stress to not worsen his health.
His work after leaving from the University of Sydney was focused around the development of the heart in the embryonic stages of a chick.
He died at sea on 17 May 1967 on board the Achille Lauro en route to Strangeways Laboratory in Cambridge.
[1][5] Murray was a largely private person; however, he did oppose the Communist Party Dissolution Bill 1950 and was in opposition to nuclear weapons.