Lake Tabourie Museum
The Jack Nicholson Collection 1965 held at Lake Tabourie Museum
Jack Nicholson was born in Sittingbourne Kent, England in June 1908 in his grandmother’s house. He was one of three children, his father being a British Army man stationed in India. Once his father returned to England, they found it hard to make ends meet, and decided to come to Australia to grow vegetables. They established themselves in Plateau Estate Lindfield in 1915 and later purchased a plot of 2.5 acres in Wahroonga. At the tender age of 11 Jack went to work on Dulla Dulla station between Narromine and Dubbo. He spent five years with the Roberts family learning all the tasks he needed to live on an outback property. After leaving Dulla Dulla station Jack returned shortly to Sydney before setting off to Qld to the Ardgour Station, near Wyandra.
Jack Nicholson spent his life collecting objects, taking photographs and exploring the world around him. Jack wanted to be able to share his knowledge and his collection. Jack and his wife Dorothy and son Dennis moved to the South coast in 1955, purchasing 8 acres from the bridge at Tabourie up to where the current Museum building stands, and west of Tabourie. The original homestead was called “BRANDAREE”.
Jack’s interest in First Nations cultures and artefacts is evident in the museum and there are 12,500 items for visitors to see. Jack and Dorothy inherited the “Melshimmer” collection that is housed in the museum. There were two spinsters, Ella and Maude Melshimmer, who were related to Dorothy. They lived in Bawley Point and had a haberdashery store in South St Ulladulla. When the last of the sisters passed Jack was gifted most of the contents of their home and that of the shop in Ulladulla. This is on display at the museum.
Jack and Dorothy’s were in declining health, and as their son had moved to South Africa they decided, in 1983, to approach the council to buy the building and land with his entire collection to ensure it remained intact and open to anyone who wanted to visit. Part of the sale of the property and museum funded a Winnebago for the couple to travel in. Sadly, Dorothy passed away and Jack travelled Australia alone, passing away in 1996 at the age of 88.
The museum still exists in it’s original location, at 45 Princes Highway Ulladulla which is a great testament to Jack. What a wonderful legacy to leave!
