Peter Theodore Nicholson, 1926-1998

Peter was the third child of David Theodore Field Nicholson (1894-1955) and Winifred Elinor Broughton Nicholson (nee Young), 1896-1982. They bought The Hermitage c.1922 and he was born there in 1926. 

In 1998 he was interviewed as part of a large oral history project conducted with residents and former residents of the Municipality of Ryde. He described his mother as a "very remarkable person. A very active person. She set a good example and managed her household very well". He also noted that she "believed in a good spanking at time". His father, although a hard-working businessman, was never a remote figure to his six children. Peter recalled that his father was "very close to us and he used to take us out". 

In addition to the audio recording and the transcript, Pauline Curby, the co-ordinator of the oral history project, produced a booklet titled The Hermitage: memories of the 1930s. This publication summarised Peter's memories of his childhood, his family and the house including information about the grounds "surrounded by paddocks", the staff, meals, and the religious beliefs of his parents who were committed Christians. Elinor (Winifred Elinor) was so pleased with the appearance of her garden that she commissioned photographer Harold Cazneaux, to take a series of photographs of the gardens and grounds.

In 1949 Peter married Patricia May Ohlsson and they lived firstly in Warrawee and later in Beecroft.

Peter died 10 June 1998 aged 72 and was buried at Macquarie Park Cemetery.