Born in Melbourne and educated at Scotch College, George Christie graduated in medicine in 1941. After a shortened period of residence at the Royal Melbourne Hospital he joined the Australian Army Medical Corp, and served in Australia and the South West Pacific area until 1946. On discharge he trained as a surgeon, gaining the FRACS in 1948, and the MD in 1949.

Under the influence of Professor ESJ King he switched his interest to pathology, and after three years as King's assistant at the Royal Melbourne Hospital was appointed senior lecturer in the University department in Melbourne in 1951. In 1951 and 1952, he spent eighteen months in Sir Roy Cameron's department in University College Hospital in London as Nuffield Dominion Fellow in Medicine. Here Christie acquired his life long interest in experimental pathology, and in collaboration with JD Judah, made pioneering studies in the biochemical aspects of experimental liver injury.

He returned to Melbourne in 1953, was promoted associate professor in 1955, and after two years as professor of pathology in the University of Queensland, succeeded King as professor of pathology in the University of Melbourne in 1966. Here he continued his study of experimental liver injury, especially the effects of various plant toxins brought to his notice by Mervyn Hegarty of CSIRO, Brisbane. Christie was a foundation member of the Australian Society of Experimental Pathology, and a keynote lecture in his honour is given each year at the annual meeting of the Society.

A perfectionist and master of detail, Christie supervised closely all aspects of his department. He had a high reputation as a teacher, morbid anatomist and research worker, but will be remembered best by his colleagues for the time and effort he devoted to support their work, often at the sacrifice of his own work. Poor health in his last few years did not interfere with his care for his department and the staff. Apart from a happy family life, Christie had few interests outside his department.