He emigrated to Van Diemens Land and in 1835 established the third permanent European settlement in Victoria at Bass on Western Port with his brothers Hugh and later Thomas.
Anderson had arrived in Hobart aboard the "Lang" in September 1830 and was employed as bookkeeper for Van Diemen's Land Company at Circular Head Tasmania.
In 1837 his soon to be partner Robert Massie also left VDL Co and joined Samuel at Westernport where his skills as an engineer produced a tidal-powered mill.
The Massie Anderson partnership appears to have wound up in July 1843 following an auction selling off all assets to repay creditors.
Samuel's Brothers Hugh and Thomas followed him to Bass with Hugh taking up a farm and the Carome Mill at Darebin Creek and when land was released they bought over 2000 acres centred on the Anderson area today with their homestead "Netherwood" being built on the shores of Westernport.