Scoullar was born in Ayrshire in the 1830s, and was sent to work early at the age of 7, making Kilmarnock bonnets.

He later completed a cabinet making apprenticeship, and then in 1854 emigrated to Melbourne.

In 1882, Scoullar's 17-year-old daughter died of typhoid fever.

[1] Scoullar was elected to the city council, and served a term as Mayor from 1888 to 1889.

[2] A Wellington branch of the firm was opened, and it was in that city that Scoullar died in June 1899, after a brief illness.