[2] As a constable, Nicholson received a special stripe for valour for his role in an incident at a pub in Lake Wendouree, a suburb of Ballarat, in 1898.

[3] Nicholson was appointed as Chief Commissioner in 1922 at the age of 59 having spent most of his 39 years of service with the police in regional and rural Victoria, in particular the Ballarat area.

[4] Police historian Robert Haldane wrote "[Nicholson's] affinity with the Ballarat District over many years and his close association with the then Chief Secretary and Minister of Public Health, the sitting member for Ballarat West, Major Matthew Baird, led to suggestions that Nicholson received undue favour in being appointed Chief Commissioner.

Nicholson justified this measure stating "I urged very very strongly that the discipline be tightened up - from my own observations and from complaints I had received.

[2] The strike itself led to widespread looting and rioting in Melbourne over a period of three days that was only brought under control through the use of volunteer civilian "special constables" and the armed forces.