Born in Mudgee, New South Wales, he was educated at public schools and became a clerk and cement worker.

[5] One repeated concern of Nicholls in parliament was the fate of workers at the Lithgow Small Arms Factory.

[6][7][8][9] He held the seat until his unexpected defeat in 1922 by Nationalist Arthur Manning after a redistribution weakened his margin; he alleged irregularities with the result, but nothing further occurred.

[11][12] He was involved in a serious car crash in 1924 and was struck by lightning in 1926, but escaped with a "few bruises" and "severe shock" respectively.

This article about an Australian Labor Party member of the House of Representatives is a stub.