ALMOST FORGOTTEN
A Virtual Memorial Experience
Wallace Cornwall Smalley
(1848-1872) RC Sec 5 Grave9
NAME
Wallace Cornwall Smalley
DATE OF BIRTH
1848
CATEGORY
Almost Forgotten
DATE OF DEATH
1872
CEMETERY
Colac Cemetery
Life Story
Wallace Cornwall Smalley, born in 1848, was the son of the Reverend Cornwall Smalley and his wife Eleanor. A young man of promise, he arrived in Victoria at twenty, a cabin passenger aboard the Essex, and soon took up a position as a schoolteacher at Irrewillipe. His brief career ended in tragedy, but his final act revealed extraordinary courage and compassion.
In December 1872, Wallace joined his cousin Frank Smalley and their friend Robert Macafee for a duck-shooting trip on Lake Colac. Soon after setting out, a sudden squall capsized their small boat. Though it righted itself, danger remained. Macafee, a father of six who could not swim, was placed back into the boat while the two cousins struggled in the water.
At first, they attempted to swim for help, urging Macafee to cling to the boat. But fearing he would not survive the rough conditions alone, they made the selfless decision to turn back. Together, they tried to push the boat towards shore, battling wind and waves. The effort was relentless. The boat battered their bodies as they fought to keep it steady, their strength slowly giving way.
Wallace is said to have quietly remarked, “I doubt my poor old mother won’t see me any more,” a moment that speaks to both his awareness and his resolve.
Exhausted by the struggle, Wallace and his cousin drowned—sacrificing their lives to save their friend. Macafee survived, later overcome with emotion as he recounted their bravery.
Their grave stands as a lasting tribute, a monument raised by public subscription to honour an act of profound heroism and selfless devotion.
Research by Carol Judkins
Story by Norma Bakker
Narrated by Brian Short
© 2026 Colac & District Family History Group Inc.
All rights reserved.
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.