Melville, Ninian, 1843 – 1897

Ninian Melville (1843-1897), cabinet maker, undertaker and parliamentarian, was born at Sydney, son of Ninian and Catherine Melville. Melville was apprenticed to cabinet maker John Hill & Sons, following in his father's trade. Competition from foreign furniture ruined the Melville's business and the young Ninian became involved with organising the unemployed. He took work as an undertaker in Victoria and returned to Sydney in 1874 and worked at Newtown.

Melville was an alderman at Newtown from 1879 and elected mayor in 1882. He was later an alderman at Ashfield and Summer Hill from 1895 to 1897 and mayor in 1896. After previous unsuccessful attempts to enter the NSW Parliament Melville was elected a member of the NSW Legislative Assembly for the seat of Northumberland (1880-1894). [ref:ADB 5]