Born at Ryde, near Sydney, New South Wales on 18 August 1850, third son and third child of John Blaxland, who was engaged in primary products and commerce, and Ellen Falkner, his wife. He was educated at Macquarie Fields, later called The King's School, Sydney, and received his medical training at the London Hospital. Returning to Australia he practised as a general surgeon at Palm Beach, Sydney. He married on 24 February 1892 Laura Blanche Downer. There were seven children of their marriage, two sons and five daughters. Walter Blaxland died at Sydney on 27 February 1939.