From 1839 to 1847, he was in business in Hamilton, Ontario, working as a clerk in a dry-goods business.

In 1852, during the Australian gold rushes, Cameron chartered a ship to take supplies and passengers from New York to Australia.
 Shortly thereafter, he added more ships and consolidated his business into a shipping company known as the Australian Pioneer Line.
In 1870, he took on William Augustus Street as his partner, and the firm became known as R. W. Cameron and Company.
 The company maintained success during the Panic of 1857, the American Civil War, and the boom of the Clipper.
 Cameron generally focused on trade routes between New York and Australia, linking with New Zealand, England, and certain areas in Asia, transporting kerosene and farm machinery as well as Australian wool.
 By the end of the 1800s, the company no longer owned ships, instead they chartered them, leaving risk elsewhere.
From 1839 to 1847, he was in business in Hamilton, Ontario, working as a clerk in a dry-goods business.
In 1852, during the Australian gold rushes, Cameron chartered a ship to take supplies and passengers from New York to Australia.  Shortly thereafter, he added more ships and consolidated his business into a shipping company known as the Australian Pioneer Line. In 1870, he took on William Augustus Street as his partner, and the firm became known as R. W. Cameron and Company.  The company maintained success during the Panic of 1857, the American Civil War, and the boom of the Clipper.  Cameron generally focused on trade routes between New York and Australia, linking with New Zealand, England, and certain areas in Asia, transporting kerosene and farm machinery as well as Australian wool.  By the end of the 1800s, the company no longer owned ships, instead they chartered them, leaving risk elsewhere.
Roderick Cameron