Alexander Anderson Stewart
Sir Alexander Anderson Stewart was a Scottish-born Australian engineer, industrialist and company director. After emigrating to Victoria in 1898 he rose to prominence in heavy industry, pioneering the commercial production of oxygen and acetylene and becoming the inaugural chairman of Commonwealth Industrial Gases. A leading Collins House Group director, he held senior roles across fertilisers, chemicals and mining, and was a long-serving office-bearer at The Alfred Hospital, where he was treasurer and president. He was knighted in 1937 for services to industry and public life.
Early life and engineering training
Stewart was born at Aberdeen, Scotland, on 31 May 1874, and educated at the local grammar school. He was apprenticed as a mechanical engineer and obtained further practical experience in England before emigrating to Victoria in 1898.Engineering and industrial career
Settling in Melbourne’s west, Stewart became chief engineer at the Michaelis Hallenstein tannery at Footscray. In 1903 he went into partnership with William Fyvie as Fyvie & Stewart, engineers and contractors, later trading as Alex. Stewart & Co.Recognising opportunities in industrial gases, Stewart secured German patents and plant designs and, with British Oxygen interests, helped form the Commonwealth Oxygen Company in 1911. In 1935 a reorganisation and merger created Commonwealth Industrial Gases, of which Stewart was the first chairman. Through these ventures he was central to establishing oxygen and acetylene manufacture for Australian industry and medicine.
Company directorships and Collins House
Following the death of his father-in-law James Cuming (1835–1911), Stewart joined the board of Cuming, Smith & Co. He later held directorships with Commonwealth Fertilisers and Chemicals, Australian Fertilizers, Industrial Chemicals Ltd, Dunlop, and Broken Hill South, among others. He moved within the Collins House business network.