[4] His mother, daughter of a noted centenarian,[5] was closely associated with the Anglican Sunday-school movement, and that of the Church of St Michael, North Carlton, in particular.
[a] Nickson received high commendations from the college, and was granted a year's extension for his studies, resulting in his admission as ARCM in 1899.
[1] He was instrumental in acquiring a new organ for the church and in mid-1911 left for England to personally supervise its construction by the firm of Norman and Beard to Royal College of Organists' standards.
[15] Nickson began taking private students immediately on his return from studies in England, and from 1904 taught at the Melbourne Conservatorium.
He served as organist, teacher and choirmaster at the Melbourne Church of England Grammar School from 1906 to 1926 and was music critic for The Age in the same period.