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James Charles Nicholson 1837 - 1907

James CharlesWilson Nicholson of Sydney, NSW Australia was born on September 29, 1837 in Bradford, West Yorkshire County, England United Kingdom. He was married to Diana Rushworth Nicholson, and had children James Nicholson, Louis Edwin Nicholson, and Clara Louisa Nicholson. James Nicholson died at age 69 years old on September 22, 1907 in Randwick, Sydney County, NSW Australia, and was buried in September 1907 at St Kilda Cemetery in St Kilda East, Melbourne County, VIC.

James CharlesWilson Nicholson

Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia

September 29, 1837

Bradford, West Yorkshire County, England, United Kingdom

September 22, 1907

Randwick, Sydney County, NSW, Australia

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James Charles Nicholson James Nicholson (1837 - 1907)

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James CharlesWilson Nicholson's History: circa 1837 - circa 1907

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09/29

1837

Birthday

September 29, 1837

Birthdate

Bradford, West Yorkshire County, England United Kingdom

Birthplace

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Ethnicity & Family History

Anglo Saxon
Nationality & Locations

England
Professional Career

Proprietor/Director/Owner Nicholson & Co....Musical Instruments Importer and Retailer. Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane
09/22

1907

Death

September 22, 1907

Death date

Post Surgery Complications

Cause of death

Randwick, Sydney County, NSW Australia
Death location

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09/dd

1907

Gravesite & Burial

September 1907

Funeral date
St Kilda Cemetery in St Kilda East, Melbourne County, VIC 3183, Australia
Burial location
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James Charles Nicholson lived 3 years shorter than the average family member when died at the age of 69.

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3 Memories, Stories & Photos about James

Helen McGrath

7 favorites

11/09/2014

James Charles Nicholson

A photo of James Charles Nicholson

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

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Helen McGrath

7 favorites

11/09/2014

James Charles Nicholson

A photo of James Charles Nicholson

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Helen McGrath

7 favorites

11/09/2014

I did extensive research on JCW Nicholson as a part of major research into a Roenisch Concert Grand Piano which Nicholson commissioned to be built by Carl Roenisch for what was believed to be the Melbourne International Exhibition of 1880. The piano is now housed in the Historical Instrument Collection at the Australian National University.

James arrived in Melbourne from Bradford West Yorkshire in 1959 with his new bride, Diana. James and Diana had three children. Their first born, a son they names James, sadly did not survive and died soon after birth. In 1862, they welcomed a son they named Louis Edwin, followed in April of 1864 by a daughter, Clara Louisa.

In 1874, James partnered with a former fellow worker to form their own business in the importing and retailing of musical instruments. A few years later, the partnership ended. James then continued with the business as it's sole owner.

Nicholson & Co became a household name within Australia. It had stores in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane, with smaller agencies in other states and New Zealand. Nicholson & Co stores were multi-storey, opulent spaces filled with instruments of all shapes & sizes from all over the world. Sheet music, repair rooms, teaching rooms, concert rooms, booking office, the latest and greatest in innovations off all things musical, a veritable Alice in Wonderland for lovers of music.

James became respected and admired not just in Australia, but internationally. He traveled to the factories of his suppliers in Europe, England, America and elsewhere, in order to personally select only the best quality items for his burgeoning business. His reputation was impeccable amongst his peers. Not surprising when one considers the family from whence he came. Nicholson men have been building organs and pianos in England since 1742. Today, Nicholson pianos are being built in their factory at Malvern in the UK. Nicholson organs were to be found in buildings and churches around the world, including Australia. Some are still in existence here in Australia today.

James was a well known and much admired patron of a number of organisations, but his most recognised patronage was as the founding patron of the Musical Society of Victoria.

Nicholson had previously commissioned world renowned artist Tom Roberts to paint a life size portrait which used to hang in his Sydney store. This was donated to the MSV in recognition of the long standing and extremely close relationship between James and the MSV, which continued from it's inception until his death, by James' second wife Alice Letitia Kerr after his death in 1907. The portrait is now in the collection of the Queensland Art Gallery.

Although long forgotten, James Charles Wilson Nicholson, son of one England's foremost piano and organ building dynasties, became a giant of his time. He was truly a man of substance. A great benefactor, philanthropist, businessman, innovator and lover of all things related to the arts. His contribution to both society & the blossoming commercial world was immeasurable.

Nicholson & Co was a founding member of what we know today as APRA. The Australian Performing Rights Association. James was a visionary of his time. He was one of the first to introduce hire payments, the first to introduce a booking office to his stores, the first to build premises with hydraulic lifts to move large stock items into his stores and one of the first to introduce overseas stars from the world of opera and theatre to entertain the public by performing impromptu, and organised concerts and autograph signings at Nicholson & Co stores around the country. He became a household name, with thousands of his custom designed pianos bringing the sounds of music to homes across the country. One of his pianos, known as "Nanon", became the name given to the beautiful home he and Diana built in Church Street Brighton. The home is still standing and is lovingly cared for by it's current owners. The writer of this article has had the privilege of seeing inside the front rooms of this lovely two story masterpiece, with it's high ceilings, stained glass windows and watch tower, which was used to watch the ships as they sailed into the bay.

Diana died at their home "Nanon" on the 22nd June 1890.

James married Alice Letitia Kerr, his second wife, in c1897 in Sydney. Nothing more is known about her.

James died from post surgical complications at a hospice in Randwick, Sydney on the 22nd September 1907, just one week shy of his 70th birthday. He was taken to Melbourne where he is buried in the Nicholson Family plot at St Kilda Cemetery, alongside his first wife Diana and his sister Frances.

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