Feature Profiles
14 January, 2026
SUMMER READING Business that started in a tent
Ken Arnold looks at the origins of a famous name in business
Inglewood’s longest family-owned business began in a tent and was almost destroyed in a fire only two years after it was built, yet it went on to be owned by four generations of the same family before being sold over a century later.
Nixon’s Grocery Store, now Fusspots at Inglewood, established by George Nixon Senior, was owned by the Nixon family for 104 years until it was sold in 1964.
George Nixon emigrated from Cheshire England with his wife Elizabeth, to Australia. He originally lived in Sea Lake and Burnt Creek, which is now known as Dunolly, before moving to the tent town of Old Inglewood.
Nixon established his first store in a tent at the old Inglewood goldrush before following the new rush to Inglewood in 1860. He set up shop in Brooke Street stocking an extensive range, not only of groceries but of hardware, furniture and ammunition. He also operated as a gold purchaser.
On December 3, 1862, the Great Fire of Inglewood was halted against the brick walls of Nixon’s store, the store was partially destroyed by this fire along with at least sixty-three other buildings in the township.
Nixon also sold beer from his grocery shop until the other hoteliers complained that no accommodation was available. As a result, the shop was remodelled as Nixon built a brick hotel known as the Exchange Hotel to the south of his original store around 1870. The hotel did not receive a license until 1879 and was delicensed during World War 1 in 1914.
During 1883 Nixon purchased a grocery business in Boort for his eldest son John, however on May 26, 1890, the latter assigned his stock in trade and personal property. Whilst a certificate of discharge was granted in May 1893 Nixon retained the property and business.
Meanwhile George Nixon had admitted his sons into the business by June 1888, it then trading as George Nixon & Sons. Nixon and Sons were erecting a new shop in Brooke Street, in April 1889.
At the time of the dissolution of the partnership on August 16, 1905 George Nixon, senior, assigned his share and interest to his sons, however the business name was retained, the Nixon family having stores at Inglewood and Boort whilst they had agricultural and stock grazing properties at White Knoll midway between Glenalbyn and Wedderburn Junction railway stations, in the parish of Korong, and at Barraport.
On July 28, 1909, there was another dissolution of the partnership at which time the Inglewood business came under the control of Arthur, with Cornelius Nixon taking the Boort business, and Alfred taking White Knoll, there being no mention of the Barraport property so it must have been sold. At that time the Inglewood business began trading as Arthur Nixon, Exchange Stores, general merchants.
Arthur Nixon offered White Knoll estate for auction on September 8, 1916.
During the 1920s the business was trading as Nixon Brothers.
Arthur Leslie Nixon and Ronald George Nixon sold their business to Nixon’s Exchange Stores Pty. Ltd, in late October 1929, capital £20,000/0/0 in £1 shares, the directors being Arthur Leslie Nixon, Ronald George Nixon, Grace Marion Nixon and Ida Beril Nixon.
During 1931 the Nixon family purchased the long-standing grocery business that had been established by Joseph Tivey and William Jennings, from the Tivey family, this being a short distance south on Brooke Street.
As from October 1, 1947, Arthur L. Nixon took control of Tivey’s store in Brooke Street south whilst Ronald G. Nixon took control of the Brooke Street north store. These two grocery stores operated up until recent times.
George and Elizabeth Nixon had nine children, five of interest being John, George Junior, Arthur, Alfred and Cornelius.
Elizabeth Nixon died on December 5, 1889. At that time John Nixon, 1858 - 1935, was conducting the Boort store.
George Nixon, appointed a J.P. on August 26, 1901, was three times Mayor of Inglewood died whilst travelling by train to Boort on September 22, 1906.
George Nixon Junior married Annie Eliza Game during 1896 and to them were born sons Edwin and George Wilfred and two daughters.
After her death Nixon married Lavinia Mary Game and to them were born three sons and three daughters.
George Nixon Junior died on July 24, 1940, survived by his wife, four sons and six daughters. Nixon had been a councillor for twenty-two years, serving as Mayor twice, a member of the F Company, Victorian Rangers, a foundation member and trustee of the local branch of the Australian Natives’ Association, a trustee for the cemetery, a warden of the Church of England and a foundation member of the Inglewood Rifle Club.
This building represents the oldest business still operating in Inglewood. The body of the northern portion of the building (the old Exchange Hotel) is an intact example of 1880s architecture in Inglewood during a time of great building activity and is a crucial element in the historic streetscape.