Her father Alexander Melville was a farmer and boatbuilder, while her mother Eliza (née Fogarty) was a former teacher, who had run a private school in Hokitika with her sister in the 1870s.

One of the partners, Albert Devore was a former mayor of Auckland and encouraged her to enter local politics, and the law firm was supportive of her studies.

Her family was unable to provide her with financial support so she attended night classes and continued working at the firm.

[1][2] Journalist Robin Hyde observed that although initially Melville was viewed by her male colleagues as "rather an improper joke", she came to be respected for her "logical mind and abundant common sense ...

The contributions she made to debates were always models of their kind, brief, completely thought-out and containing original ideas of real value.

"[1] She was, however, passed over in 1938 and 1941 for the role of deputy mayor, despite being the most qualified candidate by virtue of seniority and ability, which resulted in objections from women's groups.

In her work for the NCW she travelled to Europe in 1924 with Elsie Mary Griffin in order to meet other prominent feminists.

[1][2] During the Depression, she argued that women should pay the same unemployment levy as men in order to qualify for relief work.

"[2] She also held office in the Auckland Unemployed Women's Emergency Committee during this time,[1] and travelled around the country urging people to buy New Zealand-made goods and support local businesses.

[2][6] In 1914 she founded a woman's society called the Auckland Civic League, with the goal of working with the city to improve social conditions.

[1] She was however selected as the Reform Party's candidate for Grey Lynn in the 1925 general election, and secured 5,296 votes against the incumbent's 6,061.

[1][2] Although unsuccessful, her campaigns gave her an opportunity to publicise and advance the interests of the NCW, including raising the age of consent and appointing women police.

[1] She was one of six candidates who stood for selection for the Auckland East electorate by the National Party for the 1938 election,[16] but Harry Merritt was chosen instead.

The prime minister, Peter Fraser, spoke at her funeral, which was attended by hundreds of representatives of women's groups and local authorities.

[2][20] When the centre was refurbished in 2017, a new bronze sculpture by Lisa Reihana, titled Justice, was added to the outside of the building to celebrate Melville's life and work.