John Nicholson

John Nicholson was a prominent shearing contractor & pastoralist in the Dalby district.

He was born at Westbrook in 1859 to Murdoch Nicholson & Marion Nicholson (nee McGuiness). His father managed Loudoun Station during the time of Mr. Nelson's ownership, then moved to Charleville to commence a saw-milling business, which he operated for two or three years.

When old enough to start out on his own, John took up grazing at Malakoff, & married Christina Ann McLennan, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. M. McLennan, "Forest Lodge," in the Dalby district. Following his marriage he commenced huge droving contracts, moving flocks of up to 20,000 sheep.

For a time John managed a sheep station near Goondiwindi, before settling in the Dalby district, where he bought 'Duckponds', near Ducklo.

In 1894, he acquired 'Blaxland', and established the biggest shearing depot on the Darling Downs, where over 200 ,000 sheep were shorn in one season. Apart from his usual activities as a grazier, John Nicholson made heavy calls on the labour market, as establishment of the shearing shed meant employment for upwards of 30 men.

Throughout his life, John Nicholson took a great interest in every movement associated with the advancement of the district. He was a Mason, member of the Caledonian Society, racing clubs and the Pastoral & Agricultural Society. In the P. and A. Society he was a recognised expert of sheep. He became a member of the Wambo Shire Council on 1 February 1902, was elected Chairman on 10 February 1910.

Through sheer indomitable grit and determination and a generosity for which he became famed, John Nicholson made himself one of the greatest men the Dalby district has ever known. He belonged to the really old pioneers, to a class of men who gave their word as their bond.

On 17 December 1935, John Nicholson was killed when his car was hit by a train near Blaxland Railway Station.

Mr. Nicholson left his Blaxland home to proceed towards Duckponds, his other holding in the Ducklo district, where he intended supervising some mustering, a little before 6am. Two or three saddles were in the back of the car, which was travelling slowly as it approached the railway crossing.
The second division of the mail was also coming on the crossing, travelling about 12 miles per hour. When John got on the lines the car almost stopped, suggesting that it was then the driver first noticed the oncoming train. To Mr. P. Lalor, station master at Blaxland, who was an eye-witness, John appeared to accelerate, but before the machine could gather speed the train struck it on the right side. So great was the
impact that the vehicle was hurled through the railway fence, uprooted three grid posts (sunk to a depth of 3ft.) and broke the fence rails.

The car landed on its wheels 10 yards from the lines, but it had been turned round completely, as it was facing towards Blaxland
when help arrived. John Nicholson was thrown into the back seat of the machine, his head striking the bar supporting the hood, and causing fatal injuries.

The train was halted after the engine passed over the crossing, and John was attended to by the train crew, comprising Messrs. R. J. Brady, guard (Toowoomba), W. Edwards, driver (Chinchilla), — Hembrow, fireman (Chinchilla) and J. Scanlon, ticket inspector (Toowoomba). Mr. Herbert Yeates (Toowoomba) had crossed the line in his car, though in the opposite direction to Mr. Nicholson, about half a minute before the crash, and he also gave assistance. Mr. Lalor telephoned the police, ambulance and doctor. 

On July 14, 1934, John Nicholson met with a similar accident at the same level crossing, when he collided with a goods train proceeding from Toowoomba towards Dalby. On that occasion the car was wrecked completely, and John was assisted from the wreckage unharmed.

The funeral for John Nicholson on 19 December 1935 was one of the largest the town of Dalby had witnessed.  The hearse, flanked by members of the Dalby pipe band in full regalia, led a stream of cars nearly a mile long, with John's favourite grey horse following the vehicles containing members of his family.

Following the service at St. Thomas' Presbyterian Church, John Nicholson was buried in the Dalby Monumental Cemetery. He was 76 years of age, and left behind his wife and three adult daughters.