M is for Mechanic

The letter M was easy. M stands for mechanic. Both my father and grandfather, plus my uncle, were mechanics.

William Robert Nichols was born in London in 1903 and migrated to Australia with his parents, as a young boy, eventually settling in Richmond NSW. Known as 'Bill' - he was apprenticed to Wally Heap who was an Auto Mechanic in Richmond, after he left school. When he finished his apprenticeship, he continued his studies, by completing correspondence courses.

Bill's certificate for Petrol Motors, 1921

Bill became interested in the potential of Riverstone and leased an old stable building opposite present Post Office in Garfield  Road and established a motor repair shop. In about 1927 he moved to a workshop partly occupied by Harry Williams a blacksmith, corner of Garfield Road and Carlton Streets besides Riverstone Park. He worked long hours and built his business and established the first purpose built garage, Nichols Service Station in Garfield Street in Riverstone, opening in 1935 the moved the business further up Garfield Road, opposite the Uniting Church. Read more about the Service Station here. Early on, Bill also drove hire cars, but that is another story. 

Bill’s eldest son, Geoff (born 1930) started work at the garage and then commenced his apprenticeship in 1946. As part of his training he attended Ultimo Tech. Geoff later worked at the Hunt Bros Ford Dealership in Parramatta.  

My father Ern (born 1932) named after his Grandfather, commenced in the workshop in 1947 with a pay of £1 per week. The following year he began his apprenticeship and attended Granville Tech, a mechanic’s apprentice at this time was over a period of 5 years. His apprentice pay increased to £1-7-6 per week. Working conditions were fairly basic in those days and Ern remembered having to do repairs under cars on shale and ash covered yards. 

L to R: Bill with Geoff, his father Ern and son Ern

Bill's father Ern, was a Baker by trade. When Bill had to serve World War 2, he managed the business, selling petrol and doing small jobs, to keep the business afloat for his son. The above image shows three generations working in the late 1940s.

Following the passing of Bill in 1958, Ern managed the service station. Geoff returned in the 1960s and the business expanded and continued in the family until 1986, when it was sold and the two brothers retired.

Nichols Service Station expanded opening larger premises in 1974

This is my contribution to the Blogging from A to Z Challenge (#AtoZChallenge)