ALMOST FORGOTTEN
A Virtual Memorial Experience
Mary Scholl
(c1857-1894) Pres Sec 8 Grave 60
NAME
Mary Scholl
DATE OF BIRTH
1857
CATEGORY
Almost Forgotten
DATE OF DEATH
1894
CEMETERY
Colac Cemetery
Life Story
The Sholl family lived in Colac for less than a decade in the late nineteenth century, yet those years were marked by both growth and loss. It was here that Mary Sholl gave birth to two of her six children, and where her life came to an early end, leaving a lasting imprint on her family.
Mary Miller was born in Bendigo around 1857. At the age of twenty, she married William Sholl in 1877 in St Kilda. In the following years, the young couple established their home in Melbourne, where their four children, Thomas, Albert, Ethel and Walter were born.
By the mid-1880s, William, a chemist, seeking a quieter life moved to a rented shop and residence in Murray Street, Colac, where William conducted his business. During their time here, two more sons, Reginald and Raymond, were born, completing their family of six.
Their household was a busy one, with young children to care for and the added responsibilities of animals kept on the property; a dog, a cow, and a small pig. Mary frequently sought assistance through advertisements for a nurse or general servant, reflecting the demands placed upon her.
Though not prominent in public life, the family contributed in their own way. William supported local causes and served on the committee of the free library.
Mary’s health declined as she suffered from consumption, a disease that was often prolonged and difficult. On 15 May 1894, she died at just thirty-seven years of age, leaving behind a husband and six children aged between seventeen and seven.
Her death brought swift change. Within weeks, William had sold his business and household effects and returned to Melbourne with the children.
Two years later, he remarried, but Mary’s time in Colac remained a defining chapter in the family’s story.
Research by Merrill O’Donnell
Story by Lynette Genua
Narrated by Robyn Alexander
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Life stories have been researched and compiled by the Colac & District Family History Group Inc. and its independent contributors. This material must not be copied or reproduced without permission. AI tools have been used to assist.
For more information, please contact the Colac & District Family History Group Inc.
© Colac & District Family History Group Inc 2026
This profile is a potted biography prepared from more extensive research undertaken by the Colac & District Family History Group (CDFHG). For additional information, historical records, or further research relating to this individual, please contact the CDFHG team.