Medical- Botanist Charles Meller’s career was short lived but very rich. He formed part of Livingstone’s expedition along the Zambèze, acted as the Vice Consul in Madagascar to Mauritius before his appointment as Director of the Gardens on the first of June 1866.
Although he was of a frail and sickly nature; due to fevers acquired in Africa, Charles Meller set out on an expedition to the Philippines, Australia and New Caledonia on the quest for new sugarcane varieties that he intended to introduce to Mauritius.
Once in Australia Charles Meller succeeded in acquiring some sugarcane plants from Port Mackay to Queensland before passing away at the age of 33. His successor W.T Caldwell completed the expedition by bringing the sugarcane plants back to Mauritius.