Born in 1865 in Ireland, he graduated in engineering and arts. Following short engineering engagements in Ireland and England, he came to Victoria in 1889, working on the Laanecoorie Weir, and other Water Supply schemes for Victoria.

He took up a lectureship in mechanical engineering at the University of Melbourne, where he met John Monash. In 1894 they set up a consulting partnership designing and contracting engineering works. After a meeting with Frank Gummow of Sydney, in 1897 Anderson negotiated an agreement whereby Monash and Anderson became Victorian agents for Monier and Wayss reinforced concrete. They secured contracts and built several notable bridges using this new technology.

After the company failed financially in 1902, Anderson was appointed engineer to the Drainage Board in Dunedin, New Zealand from 1902 to 1906.

He returned to Victoria to became Shire Engineer and engineering consultant for several local government councils in various parts of Victoria, and again became very active with the Victorian Institute of Engineers, including leading discussions about main road developments in Victoria.

In the 1920s he was engineering consultant to Walter Burley Griffin, advising on the design of Canberra's water supply system and the Cotter Dam.

Between 1921 and 1939 he was appointed Engineer to the City of Richmond, where he was responsible for an extensive programme of main road and bridge works, including responsibility for maintaining most of the Yarra River bridges, their modification for tramway electrification and strengthening. He was also responsible for repair works following the 1934 Yarra River floods, and was associated with the innovative Grange Road Bridge, and the remodelling of the Richmond Town Hall using reinforced concrete, 1934-36.