He worked as a shearer and bushworker after leaving school, and was active in local affairs, founding the Nundle League in 1902.
[1] McClelland twice attempted to enter state politics before his 1920 victory, losing to Labor-turned-Nationalist MLA George McDonald in Bingara at a 1916 by-election and again in 1917.
In 1920, on his third attempt, he was elected as the sole Labor member in the multi-member electorate of Northern Tablelands.
He achieved a brief political comeback in 1930, winning newly recreated Dubbo, but lost it to the Country Party's George Wilson in the Labor defeat of 1932.
[4] Alfred McClelland died in Sydney in 1969 January 29, 1969(1969-01-29) (aged 82), and was cremated at Rookwood Cemetery.