He established one of the earliest foundries and engineering works in Melbourne in 1842 with Robert Langlands and laid the basis for the metal industry in the colony of Victoria.

He was apprenticed to a machine-maker but migrated in February 1842 to Port Phillip in partnership with Robert Langlands, whose brothers George and Henry had previously come to the colony to start a metal works.

[1] Langlands and Fulton established their iron foundry in Flinders Streetwith in 1842 with only a small foot-lathe, but were still able to erect a steam engine for the first flour mill in Melbourne.

He became a Melbourne city councillor in 1854–59 and a magistrate and was a strong advocate for temperance, for separation of the colony from New South Wales and abolition of convict transportation.

[1] Garryowen described him as "...the sort of man for an infant settlement; skilful, and industrious, strong of mind, iron in frame, outspoken, and honest to the backbone.