Who Was CB Alexander?

2007 marked the 60th anniversary of the death of Charles

Boyd Alexander, benefactor of Tocal. Charles was the

youngest son and last surviving member of the Alexander

family who arrived in Australia from the slums of Glasgow

as assisted immigrants.

Starting a new life, this insular Scottish family worked and

saved hard. They were typical of that wave of new arrivals

who started with nothing and ended up with enormous

wealth. In one generation they went from poverty to

riches.

What manner of man was Charles Alexander? What was

his vision, and how did he amass the fortune needed to

establish Tocal College?

This tale traces the movements and dealings of this

publicity-shy family. They lived in a world of their own

making: a world of both frugality and the trappings of great

wealth; of reticence mixed with rare displays of opulence.

A remarkable family: a mysterious man.