Age, Biography and Wiki

Leslie Melville (Leslie Galfreid Melville) was born on 26 March, 1902 in Sydney, New South Wales, is an Australian economist, academic and public servant. Discover Leslie Melville's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 100 years old?

Popular As Leslie Galfreid Melville
Occupation N/A
Age 100 years old
Zodiac Sign Aries
Born 26 March 1902
Birthday 26 March
Birthplace Sydney, New South Wales
Date of death 30 April, 2002
Died Place Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Nationality Australia

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 26 March. He is a member of famous economist with the age 100 years old group.

Leslie Melville Height, Weight & Measurements

At 100 years old, Leslie Melville height not available right now. We will update Leslie Melville's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
Height Not Available
Weight Not Available
Body Measurements Not Available
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Who Is Leslie Melville's Wife?

His wife is Mary Scales

Family
Parents Not Available
Wife Mary Scales
Sibling Not Available
Children Galfrid Leslie ("Tig") Melville Anthony Melville

Leslie Melville Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Leslie Melville worth at the age of 100 years old? Leslie Melville’s income source is mostly from being a successful economist. He is from Australia. We have estimated Leslie Melville's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income economist

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Timeline

1902

Sir Leslie Galfreid Melville (26 March 1902 – 30 April 2002) was a renowned 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.

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.

He won a scholarship to Sydney Church of England Grammar School (Shore), where he topped the state in mathematics, and was known as the "Isaac Newton of Shore".

While studying engineering at the University of Sydney, he diverged into actuarial studies and then joined the NSW Superannuation Fund.

Working full-time meant he could study only subjects he could take at evenings, so he chose economics.

1924

In 1924, aged only 22, he was appointed Public Actuary for South Australia.

In this role he was often called upon to advise the government on economic issues generally.

1925

In 1925 Melville married Mary Scales in Adelaide.

They had two sons, Galfrid (Tig) and Anthony.

1928

In 1928 he gave evidence on Commonwealth-State economic and financial matters before the Royal Commission on the Australian Constitution, and again in 1929 before the Royal Commission on the Finances of South Australia.

1929

In 1929, aged only 27, Melville became the Foundation Professor of Economics at the University of Adelaide.

1930

In 1930 he became Chief Economic Adviser to the Commonwealth Bank, a role he held for 23 years.

In this role he was at the forefront of the formulation of Australia's policies to combat the Great Depression.

1932

Melville represented Australia at the 1932 Ottawa Imperial Trade Conference, after the Prime Minister Joseph Lyons had revoked Sir Robert Gibson's directive for him not to attend.

1933

Melville also attended the World Economic Conference in London in 1933.

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

His economic thinking was often out of kilter with his colleagues: he advocated exchange rate fluidity when most were arguing for the status quo.

1936

He presented his ideas forcefully at the 1936-37 Royal Commission on Banking and Monetary Systems.

During World War II, he helped design Australia's war economy.

1944

In 1944 Melville led the Australian delegation to the Bretton Woods Conference, which laid the foundations for the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

John Maynard Keynes was very impressed with Melville; and he said that Melville:

... upheld the dignity and integrity of Australia with the most marked success ... He handled himself most impressively, was clear, cogent and never unreasonable, put his point forcibly yet moderately, yet achieved ... as much as was humanly possible to move matters in the direction he desired.

He had quite a difficult task and accomplished it supremely well.

1950

In 1950 Melville became Australia's Executive Director of both the World Bank and the IMF.

1953

He also played an important role in the early years of the Australian National University, serving as its Vice-Chancellor between 1953 and 1960.

From 1953 to 1960 he was Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University (ANU).

After his retirement, he remained an honorary fellow of the ANU in the Department of Economics at the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies (RSPAS).

When H. C. Coombs was appointed Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, he paid tribute to Melville by advising the government and others that the best man for the job had been overlooked.

Melville nevertheless served three terms as a Board Member of the Reserve Bank.

When Melville retired, Coombs wrote to him: In the years you were with the Bank, you made a contribution to the theory and practice of central banking which is without equal in the world.

1960

In 1960 he became Chairman of the Tariff Board, but clashed repeatedly with the Trade Minister, John McEwen, and he resigned in 1962.

1966

In 1966 Melville was appointed Chairman of the Commonwealth Grants Commission, remaining in this post until 1974.

2002

Sir Leslie Melville celebrated his 100th birthday on 26 March 2002 at Canberra's Commonwealth Club, which he had helped found.

He died a month later, on 30 April 2002.

At the time of his death, he was survived by his son Anthony, three grandchildren (Jennifer, Elizabeth and Alice) and five great-grandchildren (Michael Kalaf, Henry Kalaf, William Kalaf, Patrick O'Connell and Sophie O'Connell).

His close friend Professor Heinz Arndt was to deliver Melville's eulogy, but he died in a car accident while on the way to the funeral.