The Australia captain, who is now averaging 151 in the series after four Tests, stood firm as England struggled to break through stubborn defences.
Handshakes were eventually exchanged at 4.48pm with Australia 263-4 with a lead of 99 and just 17 overs remaining in the day.
England captain Joe Root was left frustrated as his bowlers chipped out two wickets – David Warner falling to his own bowling and Shaun Marsh to Stuart Broad – to give some hope.
But he will console himself that England have at least avoided a third whitewash in the last four series down under.
Smith is fast turning into an immoveable object for Root and his bowlers.
There was a staggering statistic doing the rounds at the close of play was that if he was to be out for a king pair in the final Test in Sydney his average for the series would be 100.
He was helped here in Melbourne by a flat pitch which aside from the odd moment of drama provided a terrible spectacle for the 262,616 paying customers over the course of five days.
England started the day with hope with Australia still trailing by 61 at 103-2 and although there was a delay for rain which dampened those hopes briefly when Warner was out, skying Root’s off spin to James Vince at short cover for 86 to leave at 172-3 (a lead of just eight) there was a buzz of possible victory.
It was a timely gift for Root on his 27th birthday and when Broad found Shaun Marsh’s edge – Jonny Bairstow grabbing a brilliant one-handed catch behind the stumps to his left – at 178-4 with a lead of just 14.
From there, England just found Mitch Marsh (29no) and Smith, who finished unbeaten on 102, just shut the door on a victory.
England will go to Sydney with a decision to make over Moeen Ali and Mason Crane after another disappointing Test for the former. Depending on the pitch at the SCG, it may be that they go with both and drop Tom Curran.