Byrne was born at Myola, Queensland, the son of Peter Byrne Snr and his wife Mary (née McCoy). He was educated at the Mareeba State School and then attended Nudgee College in Brisbane. On leaving school he found work at the Chillagoe smelters before becoming a canegrower in Tully from 1925. He was also a tax agent and, during the 1930s, helped many farmers who had been declared bankrupt get back on their feet again.Motion of Condolence — Hansard. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
