Vale Neil Clerehan 29 December 1922 — 10 November 2017
Neil Clerehan was one of Melbourne’s great architectural figures. For more than sixty-five years, he served his profession with the greatest distinction as an architect, editor, writer, advocate and critic. At the same time he delighted and scandalized colleagues, clients and friends as no other could.
Clerehan was born on 29 December 1922. He was schooled at St Patrick’s College in East Melbourne and the daily electric tram ride from the family home in Elwood to St Kilda railway station fostered the young boy’s fascination with houses and Art Deco blocks of flats. For his eleventh birthday, Clerehan asked for a subscription to Australian Home Beautiful. His future ambition was sealed. Matriculating aged sixteen, Clerehan enrolled in architecture at
