Sir Leslie Galfreid Melville - economist and ANU vice chancellor

Abstract

Sir Leslie Melville was born at Marsfield, Sydney in 1902. He was educated at the Sydney CEGS and St Pauls College, University of Sydney.

From 1953 to 1960 he was Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University. Before taking up this appointment he had held distinguished positions in the public service, the University of Adelaide and the Commonwealth Bank.

His career as an economist began with appointment to the position of Public Actuary of South Australia, which he held from 1924 to 1928. Sir Leslie was then appointed as the first Professor of Economics in the University of Adelaide. In 1931 he was invited to be the first Economic Adviser to the Commonwealth Bank and remained in this position until 1950 when he was appointed Assistant Governor of the Bank, in charge of central banking.

Sir Leslie was awarded his knighthood in 1957. He left the ANU to take up the position of Chairman of the Australian Tariff Board. After completing his term on the Tariff Board he was appointed as a Member of the Reserve Bank Board and Chairman of the Commonwealth Grants Commission. Show more