Leslie Melville

Sir Leslie Galfreid Melville (26 March 190230 April 2002) was an Australian economist, academic and public servant. He helped form Australia's central banking system and gave his voice in international economic forums in the years following World War II. He also played an important role in the early years of the Australian National University, serving as its Vice-Chancellor between 1953 and 1960.

Early years and background Leslie Melville was born in Sydney in 1902. His father Richard Ernest Melville was of Irish stock, and his mother Lillian Evelyn née Thatcher had English forebears. During World War I, his father lost his job as a bank manager and then invested in a project that failed, bringing the family into severe financial difficulty. This experience helped formulate Leslie's outlook and attitudes to economic matters generally. In 1930 he became Chief Economic Adviser to the Commonwealth Bank, a role he held for 23 years.

He became a prolific writer on economic matters, contributing greatly to economic debate both at home and internationally.

Honours

In the 1953 New Year's Honours, Melville was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to the Commonwealth Bank. In the 1957 New Year's Honours, he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order (KBE).

The ANU celebrated his centenary by dedicating an annual lecture series in his name, the Sir Leslie Melville Lecture. The inaugural address, given on 22 March 2002, a few days before his 100th birthday, was delivered by Ian Macfarlane, then Governor of the Reserve Bank.

Melville Hall and Melville Place at the ANU are named in honour of Sir Leslie.