Matthew Wallace was born in 1872 at Dingo Creek, near Wingham, NSW. His father, Cooper Wallace, was a farmer who had emigrated as a child with his family from Leith in Scotland.
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Matthew, being the youngest of seven sons, had little option than to find work outside the family farm and he joined the Australian Joint Stock Bank on the Macleay. At this time he was also a champion all-round sportsman.
In about 1892 he was transferred to the bank’s Macksville branch. When the bank closed a few years later he resigned and stayed on the Nambucca. This may have been because of his attachment to local school teacher Isabel Gellatley, as they were married in 1897.
Isabel was a teacher at the Utungun Provisional School. In 1896 she faced a complaint that she was of “loose conduct in her private life because she was in the habit of walking out in the evenings in lonely places with males friends”. Inspector Lobban came to her rescue, exonerating her of such decadent behaviour.
Matthew’s position in the bank and his knowledge of finance meant he was able to take advantage of local bankruptcies. When Hugh McNally lost his property in the economic crash in the 1890s, Matthew took over his property and subdivided it, giving the town its main business area.
He had a store in River Street, Macksville. When he sold the store to John Egan he was able to live on his land dealings and investments. The local newspaper stated in 1910 that Matthew was connected with every public body in Macksville. He and John Egan were seen to be the new business elite.
Matthew was elected the first chairman of the Macksville Dairy Co-op, a position he held until his death. He was also the first president of the Nambucca/Bellingen Shire Council in 1907.
When Bowraville held their first agricultural show in 1906, Matthew proposed that Macksville should have their own agricultural society. The first Macksville show took place on his paddock and used the School of Arts as a pavilion.
Matthew built the Nambucca Hotel in 1915 and was involved in the development of the Macksville School of Arts.
Wallace Street Macksville is named after the family and Cooper Street is named after his father.
Matthew and Isabel’s son Johnny Wallace was a Rhodes Scholar and a famed Rugby Union player, coach and administrator. Johnny Wallace may be remembered as the player, captain and coach who helped to put Australia back on the Rugby Union world map.
When Matthew died in 1929 at the age of 57. He was buried at the Macksville cemetery and left behind his wife Isabel, son and two daughters.
His legacy still lives on as it would be hard to imagine Macksville’s prosperity without his business acumen and foresight.
Thanks to the Nambucca Headland Museum for use of their records in this article. Nambucca Headland Museum is open from 2pm to 4pm Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.