Stuart spent his early childhood years in England before emigrating with his parents and brother Alan to Tasmania in 1950. He attended the Hutchins School and Hobart High School. He lived in England for a period in the 1960's before returning to live in Melbourne. He worked for HC Sleigh in international trade and marketing and later undertook a number of small business ventures. His daughter, Susannah, was born in 1991. Stuart died in 2009 in Melbourne.