Background
The son of a Scottish cabinet maker who had been transported to Australia for stealing clothes, Melville was born in Sydney and followed his father into the furniture making business.
The son of a Scottish cabinet maker who had been transported to Australia for stealing clothes, Melville was born in Sydney and followed his father into the furniture making business.
Unfortunately, the business collapsed in 1866 under pressure from foreign imports and Melville began organising the unemployed to protest and demand protection for the industry. He moved to Melbourne the following year where he put his carpentry skills to use with an undertaker and also unsuccessfully contested a seat in the Victorian Parliament. He was elected Chairman of Committees in 1886 but never served as a minister.
His period in office was colourful including an unproven allegation of bribery and being described by the premier Sir Henry Parkes as the "veriest charlatan that ever lived" and by poet Henry Kendall as "that immense imposter".
Melville was also active in local politics spending time on Newtown Council, where he was elected mayor in 1882, and Ashfield Council, where he was elected mayor in 1896.