One of Western Australia’s most successful engineers, business leaders and philanthropists has passed away at the age of 95. True to form, he was at his desk just two days ago.
One of Western Australia’s most prominent and successful engineers, business leaders and philanthropists has passed away at the age of 95.
Harold Clough was best known for building Clough Ltd into a leading engineering and construction company.
He led the company for 49 years, during which time it was involved in development of many of the state’s iconic infrastructure, resources and energy facilities.
Often described as a visionary, Mr Clough pioneered the development of commercial opportunities in Asia, including in Indonesia, as well as Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and Saudi Arabia.
After retiring as chairman of Clough in 2003, he remained active in business through family company McRae Investments, which holds a diverse portfolio of mining and technology investments.
Mr Clough was also a generous philanthropist. Since 1972, the Clough Scholarship program has supported more than 200 engineering students at the University of Western Australia.
Mr Clough was the recipient of numerous awards during his lifetime.
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1979 and an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1990.
In addition, he was named the WA Citizen of the Year in Industry and Commerce in 1983 and was the first recipient of the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ gold medal award for WA, in 1994.
Mr Clough’s daughter Mimi Packer said he died very peacefully at his home yesterday afternoon, surrounded by his family.
Ms Packer said he had been sitting at his desk just the day before passing.
“He loved his work, it was his joy,” she said.
“He always loved a challenge, he was a risk taker.
“He had fun with it all his life.”
Ms Packer said all the people in her father’s life were equally important, and he regarded mentoring as a privilege.
“He took a personal interest in all the people he worked with,” she said.
Ms Packer also commended the support he provided to his extended family, which lived together on a large property in Mosman Park.
“No matter how busy he was, he was always there for us,” she said.
CLOUGH ENGINEERING
The company that bears Mr Clough’s name continues to be one of WA’s largest engineering firms.
From its Perth base, it has built a global footprint with a focus on complex infrastructure and engineering projects.
Managing director Peter Bennett said it was with deep sadness that he informed staff of the passing of their much-loved and respected former leader.
“Harold Clough was one of Australia’s foremost engineers, visionaries, business leaders and philanthropists, and still today, our company benefits from the values and vision he instilled during his 49 years at the helm,” Mr Bennett said.
He added that Mr Clough was passionate about engineering and growing new generations of highly skilled professionals.
“He was a firm believer in bringing talented people into his businesses, supporting their learning and growth,” Mr Bennett said.
Sue Murphy was one person whose career was shaped by Mr Clough.
She won a Clough scholarship and joined the company after graduating in 1979, rising to become its first female director and chief executive of its minerals and infrastructure division.
“Harold was an amazing man,” Ms Murphy said.
“He was quite visionary and really changed the face of WA.”
Ms Murphy said the Clough business was absolutely based on his values.
“He had a belief we could always find a cleverer way of doing things than anybody else,” she said.
“He had a genuine belief in his staff and allowed them to find solutions.”
“He’d say: ‘Oh you smart young things, you’ll work it out’."
Ms Murphy also commended Mr Clough’s people skills.
“He was very good at making people around him feel special,” she said.
UWA vice-chancellor Amit Chakma described Mr Clough as one of the university’s most renowned and successful engineering graduates.
“He placed a high value on the education he received at our university and throughout his life contributed back to his alma mater,” Professor Chakma said.
He added that Mr Clough played an active role on the UWA Senate and helped navigate the university through critical business decisions.
Mr Clough received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Engineering from UWA in 1990.
CAPTION: Mr Clough with his wife Margaret after being awarded his honorary degree in 1990.
The Harold and Margaret Clough Lecture Theatres were named in their honour in 2017.
Another side of Mr Clough’s life was his support for public policy research.
Ms Packer described her father as a passionate libertarian, a lifelong supporter of the freedom of individuals and free enterprise.
In that capacity, he was the main funder of the Australian Institute of Public Policy, set up by former Liberal MP and renowned ‘dry’, John Hyde.
Mr Clough also supported the Institute of Public Affairs.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA president Nicolle Jenkins praised Mr Clough, who previously served in the same role.
"Few in the 130 year history of CCIWA have made a greater contribution," Ms Jenkins said.
"A life member, he believed deeply in the value of membership of our organisation.
"Mr Clough fought for an open, internationally competitive economy and, throughout his career, pushed hard against protectionist agendas and regulatory overreach.
"He also made significant investments in forging closer cooperation between industry and the research sector, especially the University of Western Australia.
"He has been part of a select group of WA owner-entrepreneurs who have delivered extraordinary wealth and prosperity to our State."
LIFE STORY
Harold Clough was born on September 30 1926 in Subiaco.
He completed his Leaving at Scotch College before studying engineering at UWA.
Mr Clough won a Fulbright Scholarship, allowing him to complete further studies in the US, where he met his future wife, Margaret McRae.
The two had grown up just a few streets apart in Nedlands but did not meet until they were in San Francisco.
In 1954, he joined the family company, Clough Brothers, a small building firm established by his father and his uncle.
Under Harold’s leadership, the company rapidly expanded, winning a contract in 1955 to build a six-storey head office for National Mutual.
This was one of Perth’s largest buildings at the time, with the project valued at £500,000.
It won a much larger contract the next year, partnering with a Danish company to build the Narrows Bridge.
That was a ground-breaking contract, as it was the first time a large engineering structure had been built by a non-government entity in WA.
That was followed by many other big infrastructure projects, including the Muja Power Station, Ord River Diversion Dam, and part of the Standard Gauge Railway with Perron Bros (owned by the late Stan Perron).
Clough was deeply involved in the development and opening up of the Pilbara region, building numerous marine structures, starting in 1964 with a jetty at Parker Point near Dampier for then Hamersley Iron (Rio Tinto).
Through the 1970s, Clough expanded interstate and overseas.
That was followed by a move into oil and gas in the 1980s, with significant projects being the North Rankin ‘A’ trunkline, Harriett Oil Field, and LNG Jetty at the Burrup Peninsula for Woodside.
On many of these and other projects, Clough established joint ventures to lift its capability.
In 1989, Harold retired as managing director of Clough Engineering, but remained chairman of Clough Limited until 2003.
That followed the listing of Clough on the ASX in 1998.
Mr Clough’s death comes nearly three years after the passing of his wife, Margaret, who died in March 2019.
They are survived by six children, 16 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
