Clive Evatt

Clive Raleigh Evatt QC (6 June 1900 – 15 September 1984) was an Australian politician, barrister and raconteur. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1939 until 1959. At various times he sat as a member of the Industrial Labor Party, ALP and as an independent.

Early life

Evatt was born in East Maitland, the son of an immigrant publican who died when Evatt was one year old. One of eight brothers, including H. V. Evatt, they were educated at Fort Street Boys' High School.

Evatt's family prevented him from enlisting in the First AIF, but allowed him to enrol in the Royal Military College, Duntroon from which he graduated as a lieutenant in 1921. He resigned from the army during the next year to study law at the University of Sydney. While at university, he played Rugby League for University and New South Wales. Evatt graduated and was admitted to the New South Wales Bar in 1926.

He married Marjorie Andreas, the daughter of Harry Andreas of Leuralla, in 1928 and they had three children: Elizabeth Evatt AC; Penelope Seidler AM and defamation barrister Clive Evatt Jnr. His career as a barrister advanced rapidly and he was appointed a King's Counsel in 1935. He specialized in Workers' Compensation Cases but also appeared in criminal cases, most notably in the Shark Arm case.