Reference to the index of the business papers, accounts, shipping consignments & miscellaneous papers of Alexander McGregor, ship owner and merchant.

Alexander McGregor (1821-1896), shipowner and merchant, and John Gibson McGregor (1830-1902) arrived in Tasmania from Scotland with their parents, James and Janet McGregor. The brothers served apprenticeships under a shipwright, John Watson, and then started building boats. Alexander acquired the Domain Shipyard in 1855 with his brother John as foreman, but sold out to his brother in 1869. John continued to run the shipyard until he retired in 1890 and built many ships well known in inter-colonial trade, including "Petrel", "Helen", "Hally Bayley", "Loongana", Derwent Hunter and the "Harriet McGregor".Alexander McGregor started the firm of McGregor, Piesse & Co., general merchants of Elizabeth Street, Hobart, with Charles A. Piesse. They bought ships for exporting whale oil, blue gum, timber and wool, known as the "Red Iron" fleet, and they had a warehouse in Salamanca Place