[1] He began his working life as a railway fitter in England before moving to Queensland around 1884.

[2] He worked as a hospital wardsman in Normanton for twenty years from 1887, was overseer, Townsville Quarantine Station from 1912 until 1917,[1] and Visiting Justice at St Helena Prison and other centres throughout the state[2] from 1923 to 1930.

[2] Standing as the Labour[1] candidate for the seat of Carpentaria, he defeated the sitting member, James Forsyth.

After a failed referendum in May 1917,[4] Premier Ryan tried a new tactic, and later that year advised the Governor, Sir Hamilton John Goold-Adams, to appoint thirteen new members whose allegiance lay with Labour to the Council.

[5] Nevitt was one of the thirteen new members, and went on to serve for four and a half years until the Council was abolished in March 1922.