Alexander Tassie was born 26 August 1832 at Roseneath, Scotland and migrated to South Australia with several brothers and sisters after the death of his parents. He played an important role in the opening up of Port Augusta three years after its discovery in 1852. Tassie, accompanied by A L Elder of Elder, Stirling and Co examined the potential of the site and encouraged by the support of pastoralists in the adjacent Flinders Ranges he opened a store, the first building in Port Augusta. The first export from the fledgling port was a dozen bales of wool. Port Augusta would grow to become a major town and the supply point for northern South Australia.

Tassie was also a pastoralist, initially at Point Lowly station on Eyre Peninsula, but this venture was not successful as adequate water was scarce. He spoke up for the rights of squatters in the northern pastoral runs during the Royal Commission investigating the state of pastoral runs during the period of severe drought in the 1860s. On his early death at 40 years, a handsome monument in his memory was erected in Gladstone Square by the people of Port Augusta.

Sketches by Babbage 1858: Port Augusta: Mr Tassies house at Port Augusta

Port Augusta: Local heritage survey: pp. 60-62 Tassie memorial