Nicholson Farm Machinery was formed in 1962 in a partnership between Noel Nicholson and his wife Lorna and operated out of the small garage at the existing residence near today’s business.
Noel had always been in the mechanical side of life since leaving school and working at his father Ollie’s business. Nicholson and McDonald in Crookwell’s main street where the amenities block is now (this garage was operated by Billy Gay until it collapsed under a snow fall in approx 1968).
Noel later worked on the Iron Mine and Maple Leaf Trucks before joining his brother, Doug to work with Ralf Delaney at Mackness and Avery repairing and picking up FJ Holden’s etc.
About 1953 Noel took a career change after he married Lorna Willis (Willis’s Orchards on Grabben Gullen road) from motor vehicles to the enterprising world Agricultural Machinery namely the “Ferguson System” as a roving salesman and mechanic for the Crookwell, Bigga, Taralga and Grabben Gullen areas selling the popular Tea 20 Ferguson tractors and implements for Harold Heat at Heats Motor Sales in Goulburn (Now TBP Baking). Working with Ken Weir, Amos South, Stan Geale, Keith Ranger and George Osmond Senior to mention a few.
With the purchase of the Massey Ferguson franchise from Heats, Noel and Lorna’s business prospered with the release of the Massy Ferguson 100 series range of tractors and other machinery products.
With the help of their first apprentice John Davey and later names like Freddy Seary, Peter Edmunds, Gavin McDonald, Barney Dunn, Garry Cooper, Peter Whittaker, Joe Picker to mention a few a new premise was erected in George Plumb’s spud paddock there the business stands today.
In 1973 eldest son John joined the business as an apprentice and later became a partner.
Over the years various franchises have come and gone with the advancements and various changes in the agricultural industry leading to the current range of tractors and machinery available today.