Education
Born in South Yarra to estate agent Francis William Clarey and Catherine Lawson (his half-brother Percy would also go on to be a prominent politician and unionist), Arthur attended Flemington State School, Melbourne High School and Melbourne University, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce.
Career
He was employed as a clerk with the Victorian Public Service from 1913 to 1920 and with BHP from 1920 to 1947. Clarey joined the Australian Labor Party in 1932, and was later president of the Clerks" Union. In 1955 he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Melbourne.
He was the auditor of the state branch from 1955 to 1970 and the parliamentary treasury spokesman from 1967 to 1970.
He died in 1972 at Fitzroy.