Ralph G. Morton was born and educated on Flinders Island, growing up on a family property at the historic Settlement Point. As a young man he undertook a variety of occupations, including dairying, shearing, droving, timber work and shop work, gaining a broad range of practical skills before enlisting for military service. He joined the Royal Australian Navy in April 1941 at just 17 years of age, serving first aboard a minesweeper and later on other ships overseas. His brother, Tom, also served in the Navy during the Second World War.

Following his return from war service in 1945, Ralph married Doreen, of Launceston. He was involved in a number of business interests, including a family partnership on Clarke Island and Badger Island on his own account. They farmed Lot 4 at Kentdale until 1958. As the years passed, he lost confidence in farming as a viable long-term future, and within a few years the family left Flinders Island to settle in Launceston.