Stephen Jelicich
Stephen Albert Jelicich ONZM (1 March 1923 – 19 December 2015) was a New Zealand architect and historian. He was one of the founders of JASMaD, which grew to become one of New Zealand's largest architectural firms.
Also recorded as Stephen Albert Jelicich
Stephen Jelicich
- Name
- Stephen Jelicich
- Birth Name
- Stjepan Albert Jeličić
- Born
- 1 March 1923
- Birthplace
- Sućuraj, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (present-day Republic of Croatia)
- Died
- 19 December 2015
- Place of death
- Auckland, New Zealand
- Education
- University of Auckland
- Nationality
- New Zealand
- Occupation
- architect · historian
- Honours
- Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Architects
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Documentary summary
Stephen Albert Jelicich ONZM (1 March 1923 – 19 December 2015) was a New Zealand architect and historian. He was one of the founders of JASMaD, which grew to become one of New Zealand's largest architectural firms.
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Stephen Jelicich (1923–2015) was a New Zealand architect and historian. Born in Sućuraj, the architect died in Auckland.
Stephen Jelicich studied at University of Auckland. The architect worked for Brenner Associates and Jasmax. Stephen Jelicich received Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Architects.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 01 October 2026
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Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Stephen Jelicich • Honorific Suffix — ONZM • Birth Name — Stjepan Albert Jeličić • Born — 1 March 1923 • Birthplace — Sućuraj, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (present-day Republic of Croatia) • Died — 19 December 2015 • Place of death — Auckland, New Zealand • Education — University of Auckland • Practice — * Brenner Associates (1949–1958) • JASMaD (1963–1989)
Early life and family
Early life and family
Born Stjepan Albert Jeličić on 1 March 1923 in Sućuraj, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (present-day Republic of Croatia), the son of Victor and Srećka Jeličić, the family emigrated to New Zealand in 1927. Stephen Jelicich became a naturalised New Zealander in 1928. He was educated at Sacred Heart College, and later studied at Auckland University College, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1949. Jelicich married Barbara Jean McLennan in 1958.
Historian
Historian
Jelicich researched the history of Croatian immigrants to New Zealand and their descendants. His book, From distant villages: the lives and times of Croatian settlers in New Zealand, 1858–1959, was published in 2008. He was also a contributor to the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.
Death
Death
Jelicich died in Auckland on 19 December 2015 at the age of 92. His wife, Barbara, died in 2025.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Sućuraj.
Birth place
Auckland.
Death place
Architectural practice
In 1949, Jelicich formed Brenner Associates in Auckland with fellow architects Desmond Mullen and Ron Grant and designer Milan Mrkusich. As well as architectural work, the firm engaged in integrated interior, exhibition, lighting and furniture design. In 1950 they established Auckland's first modern design store, specialising in imported and local furniture, ceramics, woodwork and glass. Brenner Associates was dissolved in about 1958, and Jelicich went into sole practice. Around 1960, Jelicich formed the Architects Planning Group, with the aim of influencing planning issues in Auckland. He entered into partnership in 1963 with Rodney Davies, Ivan Mercep, John Austin and Graham Smith to form what would become JASMaD (later Jasmax, one of the largest architectural practices in New Zealand).
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Stephen Jelicich”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q21806474: Stephen Jelicich
General reference · Wikidata
Honours
In the 2003 New Year Honours, Jelicich was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to architecture and the community. He was also a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Architects.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Ancestry.com Operations. New Zealand, naturalisations, 1843–1981. 2010.
- 2.From distant villages: the lives and times of Croatian settlers in New Zealand, 1858–1958. Croatian Genealogy Newsletter. 17. January 2009.
- 3.From Distant Villages. Fishpond.co.nz.
- 4.NZ university graduates 1870–1961: I–K.
- 5.Lloyd-Jenkins, Douglas. Modernism and the Auckland Design Community. New Zealand Home & Building: The 1950s Show. AGM Publishing/Auckland Art Gallery. Souvenir edition. 58. 1992. 0864631898.
- 6.Vlad Cacala. Lost Property.
- 7.Simmons, Lynda. From Man Alone to larrikin: the work of Neil Simmons 1958–84 (MArch thesis). University of Auckland. 36–37. 2011.
- 8.Tohill, Deirdre. A tribute to Ivan Mercep. Ponsonby News. 26. June 2014.
- 9.New Zealand's best new buildings recognised. Scoop Independent News. 25 May 2008.
- 10.Crean, Mike. Still yearning for Croatia. the Press. 4 April 2008.
- 11.Kosovich, Ante. Stephen A. Jelicich.
- 12.Totich, John Mark. Stephen A. Jelicich.
- 13.Stephen Jelicich death notice. The New Zealand Herald. 21 December 2015.
- 14.Barbara Jelicich obituary. The New Zealand Herald. 14 July 2025.
- 15.Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. New Year Honours List 2003. 31 December 2002.
References
Citations
References
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reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
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