MELVILLE, Gordon Arthur (1884-1952).jpg)
Gordon Melville (Capt 1st Cricket 1903).
One of the finest sportsmen of his era, Gordon Arthur Melville, was enrolled by his mother as a boarder at Geelong College in 1900. He was to continue his studies and sporting interests at the College through to his final year in 1904.
He was born on 28 July 1884 at Byaduk near Hamilton in Western Victoria to parents, William Melville (1829-1887) and his second wife, Annette Margaret nee Bayles (1841-1920). His enrolment record lists his entry address as Rokeby, Hamilton in Western Victoria.
His notable sporting career at the College included: Membership of the 1st Football XVIII in 1901-1904; 1st Rowing VIII in 1902 and 1904 and winning the Geelong College Cup in 1903. He was particularly remembered as a member of the 1st Cricket XI from 1901 to 1904 and its Captain in 1901-1904. He also won the
ASSOCIATION PLATE in 1901, a running sprint event at the Geelong College annual Sports, sponsored by the Old Geelong Collegians' Association (OGCA).
His academic record included the following awards:
1900 1st Algebra, Upper IVth Class;
1902 2nd Algebra, University Class;
1903 2nd Euclid, University Class.
He was also a member of the Geelong College Cadet Corps and is listed as a colour sergeant in 1902 and lieutenant in 1903. He was a member of the victorious shooting teams that won the Cumming Cup in 1902, both the Cumming Cup and Sargood Shield in 1903, and the Sargood Shield in 1904, at a time when the Geelong College dominated shooting competitions in Victoria due possibly to its relatively large cohort of Western District farmer's sons. See Also
Shooting for the photograph of the 1904 Shooting Team which includes Lieutenant Gordon Melville.
Geelong College Cup
won by G A Melville, 1903.
The 'Jubilee History' of 1911 recounted the following about Melville's cricketing talents:
'In 1901 the high water mark of College cricket was reached. The boys were keen on the game, and the team went through with an unbeaten record, winning first position in the Victorian Schools' Association (VSA), and defeating Scotch College and Geelong Grammar School, the latter twice. H Collocott had an average of 57.8, and this included 182 (not out) and 103. G A Melville's bowling average was 5.66 - (8 wickets for 102 runs).
This high standard was maintained in 1902, when the champion pennant of the VSA was again carried off, though Scotch College and Geelong Grammar School avenged their defeats of the previous year. G A Melville, the captain of the XI, headed the batting averages with an average of 41, his highest score being 167. Herbert Fry had been brought from the MCC as ground bowler. In 1903, the College won five matches out of 9 played.
Something of a record was made in the match with Carlton College that year, when G A Melville and M C Jacobs, going in first, made 353 without being separated. Melville made 193 and Jacobs 131. The innings was then closed, and the match won on that score. Then in the match against Brighton Grammar School, Melville and J F S Shannon dismissed the whole of their opponents for 2 runs. Melville accomplished 'the hat trick', though the whole of the Brighton score was made off his bowling. Shannon got the other 7 wickets for 0 runs. Again, in a match against Geelong Grammar School, Melville and Shannon distinguished themselves. The Grammar School entered on their second innings with 45 to make in order to win. They made only 19. Melville got 7 wickets for 9 runs and Shannon 3 wicketsfor 8.
In 1904, the championship of the Schools' Association was again won by the College. The only defeat was sustained at the hands of Scotch College. The new oval was made in 1904, though it was not ready for use till the following year. Melville had the best batting average, including 277 not out against University College. M C Jacobs and E J Piper made scores of 124 not out and 136 not out respectively. Still, Melville's bowling average was 54 wickets for 6.46 runs per wicket.'
He matriculated in May 1904 and attended Ormond College, Melbourne University where his sporting career suffered a setback. The
Argus newspaper reported:
'During the progress of a football match yesterday afternoon, between teams representing Trinity and Ormond Colleges Mr Gordon A Melville sustained internal injuries, owing to one of the other players colliding with him. Mr Melville pluckily played on and obtained a shot at goal, the ball however, striking the post. At the half-time interval he found that he was unable to take further paert in the game and he was removed to Dr Moore's private hospital, where at a late hour last night, he was progressing favourably.' 
Schools' Association Medallion
1st 'Dead Heat', 1903.
Schools' Association Medallion
1st 'Dead Heat', 1903.
He married Linda Eileen Barratt (1888-1976) in 1913. Melbourne
Punch described the event:
'The marriage of Mr Gordon Arthur Melville, youngest son of the late Mr (William) Melville of Weerangourt Station, Hamilton and Miss Eileen Barratt, only daughter of Mr E W Barratt of 'Glasbury', Hawthorn was celebrated at St Columb's Church, Glenferrie on 6th Oct.' The young couple spent their honeymoon at 'Gracedale House', Healesville, then a small country village. At the time he was a Director of A Burell and Co Pty Ltd.
They had two children, Peter Melville, who was killed in action in 1942 during World War II, and Elisabeth Norma Melville (c1916-1965).
Pegasus noted his death in 1953:
'Gordon Arthur Melville, well remembered at the College for his remarkable cricket feats in the years 1901-4, died in 1952.' Gordon Melville was residing at 'Tsoshaan', Irving Rd, Toorak at the time of his death.
The Geelong College Cup awarded to Gordon A Melville in 1903 and four award medallions won by him at the Schools' Association of Victoria Sports in 1903 are held in the College Heritage Collection.
Sources: Geelong College: History, Register and Records (Jubilee History) by G McLeod Redmond. Melb: Sands & McDougall, 1911. pp 99-100' Ballarat Star 18 June 1904 p4; Argus (Melb) 28 June 1905 p4; Punch (Melb) 9 Oct 1913 p37; Punch (Melb) 23 Oct 1913 p30; Pegasus Dec 1953 p47.