Life Story

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Having survived a near-drowning in a boating accident at Lake Colac in 1872 that claimed the lives of two friends, Robert Macafee, then a married father of six, went on to lead a productive and successful life.

 

He migrated to Victoria as a twenty-year-old married man from Ireland in 1861 with his young wife, Sarah. Although his occupation was shown as farmer on his shipping record, within two years Robert was employed as the school teacher at Larpent. A career he followed for most of his life including a very successful period as head teacher at Pirron Yalloak for many years. During this time, he and Sarah increased their family with another five children and, in tribute to the two friends who saved his life he named his next born son, Wallace Francis Smalley Macafee. 

 

Unfortunately, whilst head teacher at Warrion West, failing eyesight forced his early retirement on a pension in the 1890s. After this unexpected end to his teaching career, he became a storekeeper in the Pirron Yalloak area. 

 

Although a career as a teacher and being father of ten would have kept him very busy, throughout his life Robert was a very keen sportsman and a talented marksman who “had few equals in the Colony”. He was very actively involved in the Colac Gun Club where he was secretary for many years and upon his resignation from this position the members presented him with a handsome buggy in recognition of his contribution to the club.

 

Robert Boyd Macafee died in his sleep, following a very short illness, at the age of fifty-six, leaving his wife and nine children to mourn his passing. Two of his young adult children, a son and a daughter had pre-deceased him.

 

Research by Raye Loughnan
Story by Norma Bakker
Narrated by Brian Short
 
© 2026 Colac & District Family History Group Inc. 
All rights reserved. 

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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.