[1] In 1948 he graduated from the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Science and Diploma of Education.
He was an influential member of the Housing Industry Association SA and worked to sponsor skilled migrants from Britain to settle in Adelaide.
[2][3] He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for "services to housing and urban development" in 1998.
[1] Before his business career, Hickinbotham played six matches as a key defender for Geelong Football Club.
He unsuccessfully stood as a Liberal Party candidate for the Division of Hawker in the 1969 Federal election.