[1] Smith served as a clerk of the recently established Bank of Australasia, but in September 1837 obtained the appointment of schoolmaster at an aboriginal mission station in the colony of Victoria at a salary of £40 a year.

[3] In November 1854, at the time of the Eureka stockade rebellion, Smith took an active part in raising special constables, as there were rumours that attacks on the treasury and banks were contemplated.

[1] At subsequent elections he was returned for Creswick, and West Bourke,[4] retaining his seat until his death on 30 January 1879, when he was the "Father of the House".

Smith took great interest in various charities, for example, moving the motion (subsequently carried) in 1848 for the establishment of a Benevolent Asylum.

Smith advocated reductions in the hours of labour and generally was an active and useful member of Council and Parliament, though he only once attained cabinet rank; he was Minister of Mines in the John Alexander MacPherson Government from September 1869 to April 1870.