Alexander Melrose

File:Alexander Melrose.jpg

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 South Australia. Jimmy Melrose, the famous aviator, was a cousin.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36374348 |title=Out Among the people |newspaper=The Advertiser (Adelaide) |date=28 June 1949 |access-date=14 December 2021 |page=4 |via=Trove}}

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, Jersey cattle, and Percheron horses. He also had an interest in Oakbank Station in South Australia and Williambury, in the Gascoyne River district of Western Australia.

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, 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.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article97624775 |title=Approaching elections |newspaper=The Northern Argus |date=20 January 1933 |access-date=23 November 2014 |page=3 |via=Trove}}

Melrose was president of the Liberal and Country League and represented the Liberal Party in the House of Assembly seats of Burra Burra 1933-1938 and Stanley 1938–1941. He was elected to a Midland District seat in the Legislative Council 1941–1962.{{Cite SA-parl |pid= |name=Alexander John Melrose |former=yes |access-date=4 December 2022}}

In 1913 Melrose married Jane Florence "Jennie" Lewis (17 March 1884 – 24 August 1970), daughter of John Lewis;{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163095116 |title=Family notices |newspaper=The Observer (Adelaide) |date=8 March 1913 |access-date=13 December 2021 |page=4 |via=Trove}} 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.

• George Melrose#Family for more information on Melrose's family

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• [http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=7159 National Trust - Kadlunga homestead]

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Category:Members of the South Australian House of Assembly

Category:Members of the South Australian Legislative Council

Category:Mayors of places in South Australia

Category:Australian pastoralists

Category:Australian sheep breeders

Category:1889 births

Category:1962 deaths

Category:Liberal and Country League politicians

Category:20th-century Australian politicians