Alexander John Melrose (18 March 1889 – 6 September 1962) was a politician in the State of

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

History

Melrose was born at Kooringa, the only son of the noted philanthropist Sir John Melrose (1860–1938), of Ulooloo, and his wife Emily Eliza Melrose, née Edhouse (1862–1923). Alex's grandfather, George Melrose (1806–1894), was a Scottish pioneer settler of

Jimmy Melrose Charles James Melrose (13 September 1913 – 5 July 1936) was an Australian aviator who held a number of flying records, and was the youngest and only solo flier to finish the Melbourne (MacRobertson) Centenary Air Race in 1934. History Jimmy ...

, the famous aviator, was a cousin. Melrose was educated at St. Peter's College, and was early involved in running the station, as his father lost his sight around 1901. He lived at Kadlunga station, Mintaro, where he bred

Merino sheep The Merino is a breed or group of breeds of domestic sheep, characterised by very fine soft wool. It was established in Spain near the end of the Middle Ages, and was for several centuries kept as a strict Spanish monopoly; exports of the breed ...

Jersey cattle The Jersey is a British breed of small dairy cattle from Jersey, in the British Channel Islands. It is one of three Channel Island cattle breeds, the others being the Alderney – now extinct – and the Guernsey. It is highly productive – ...

, and

Percheron horse The Percheron is a breed of draft horse that originated in the Huisne river valley in western France, part of the former Perche province from which the breed takes its name. Usually gray or black in color, Percherons are well muscled, and ...

s. He also had an interest in Oakbank Station in South Australia and Williambury, in the

Gascoyne River The Gascoyne River is a river in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia. At , it is the longest river in Western Australia. Description The Gascoyne River comprises three branches in its upper reaches. Draining the Collier Range, the river ...

district of

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

. Melrose was a long time member of the District Council of Stanley and its chairman for twelve years, until its amalgamation with the

District Council of Clare The Corporation and District Council of Clare were twin local government areas in South Australia centred on the town of Clare. The district council existed from 1853 until 1997, while the town corporation existed from 1868 until 1969. History T ...

, and continued as a member of the larger council. He was involved in the establishment of the Clare and District Hospital, then after its incorporation in 1925 was on its board of management, including a stint as chairman. He was a director of Mintaro Slate and Flagstone Company. He was a member of the council of the S.A. Polo Association for six years, captain of the Clare Polo Club, and a foundation member of the Watervale Golf Club. Melrose was president of the

Liberal and Country League Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and ...

and represented the Liberal Party in the

House of Assembly House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral parliament. In some countries this may be at a subnational level. Historically, in British Crown colonies as the colony gained more internal responsible governme ...

seats of

Burra Burra Burra is a pastoral centre and historic tourist town in the mid-north of South Australia. It lies east of the Clare Valley in the Bald Hills range, part of the northern Mount Lofty Ranges, and on Burra Creek. The town began as a single company ...

1933-1938 and

Stanley Stanley may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Stanley'' (1972 film), an American horror film * ''Stanley'' (1984 film), an Australian comedy * ''Stanley'' (1999 film), an animated short * ''Stanley'' (1956 TV series) ...

1938–1941. He was elected to a

Midland District Midland District was one of four districts of the Province of Quebec created in 1788 in the western reaches of the Montreal District and partitioned in 1791 to create the new colony of Upper Canada. Historical evolution The District, originally ...

seat in the Legislative Council 1941–1962.

Family

In 1913 Melrose married Jane Florence "Jennie" Lewis (17 March 1884 – 24 August 1970), daughter of John Lewis; their children included: :*Evonne Ashley Melrose (24 February 1915 – 4 May 1996) married on 10 December 1937 James Elder "Jim" Gosse (4 September 1910 – 10 October 1973). They had four children. :*Eleanor Emily Brook "Poss" Melrose (14 March 1917 - 29 October 2004) married on 25 November 1939 Richard Stanley Carstairs "Dick" Rymill (12 September - 15 July 1997). They had two children. After a divorce on 1 April 1963 Eleanor married on 19 February 1966 Peter Edwin Siekmann (18 October 1909 – 6 Jul 1998). No issue - they remained together for the rest of their lives. :*John Lewis Melrose (21 April 1924 – 29 January 1987) educated at St. Peter's College, never married. Lived at and managed Kadlunga, Mintaro all his life.

References

External links

National Trust - Kadlunga homestead
{{DEFAULTSORT:Melrose, Alexander John Members of the South Australian House of Assembly Members of the South Australian Legislative Council Mayors of places in South Australia Australian pastoralists Australian sheep breeders 1889 births 1962 deaths Liberal and Country League politicians 20th-century Australian politicians

History

Family

See also

References

External links