He was educated at Manchester Grammar School and Huddersfield College and then served his articles with his father, John Makinson, becoming a solicitor in 1857.

[2] He then moved to Australia and established a successful law practice in Castlemaine, Victoria.

He was appointed Town Clerk and Borough Treasurer of Taradale, Victoria and Curator of Intestate Estates for the Castlemaine district.

He was also captain in a match at Castlemaine inflicting the English eleven's only defeat of their tour.

Makinson stayed in Australia for seven years before returning to England in 1868 and resuming his law practice.