 He developed nurseries in Geelong, Brisbane and Bowen and collected specimens for the Herbarium of Victoria.A number of Fitzalan's specimens were sent to Kew Gardens, London, where they were examined by taxonomist George Bentham for inclusion in the botanical volumes of Flora australiensis.In 1861 Fitzalan went with his wife and family in the "Jeanie Dove" with Captain Henry Daniel Sinclair to help to found Bowen, the first town in North Queensland.