His father was in the same line of business and his son John "Jack" Gordon (c. 1874 – 24 November 1911) following the family tradition, was head the scenic department of J. C. Williamson's theatrical management company for ten years.

[3] Gordon's first pieces were for the Prince of Wales Theatre in London, where he made the acquaintance of the actor George Rignold, through the mutual friendship of their fathers.

[8] Gordon worked for the theatrical partnership of Williamson, Garner and Musgrove from 1882 to 1890, but not exclusively — he also took on projects for W. S. Lyster, Samuel Lazar, John F. Sheridan, George Rignold and Robert Brough.

[10] Another notable production was the brilliant 1895 Christmas pantomime Djin Djin, the Japanese Bogie-man, which departed from the usual fairytale in both theme and production, with scenery from Gordon and his son Jack, Goatcher, and Spong, not to mention the performers, which included the riotously funny Billy Elton, music and libretto, in which the witty Dr Neild had a hand.

[11] In 1880 Garner took over the lease of White's Rooms on King William Street, Adelaide, and gave it a total makeover, giving Gordon the responsibility for internal decoration.

[15] Late on the evening of 20 May 1899 Gordon took the tram from the Princess Theatre in Melbourne, down Nicholson Street to his residence at Grantown House.

[a] His doctor, J. E. Neild, was called for, but he saw no reason to be concerned, and as George had clearly fallen asleep, promised Mrs Gordon he would return the next day to check on his condition.

[20] One of his most admired pieces was a backdrop of the Bay of Nagasaka [sic] for the first act of Madame Butterfly, starring Nellie Melba.