Our History

Nelson Bros has a long and proud history. For five generations since 1858, we have continued to provide sound advice, professional personal care and innovation. As Australia and the world have evolved, so has Nelson Bros Funeral Services.

2019

Notre Dame Cathedral fire
2018

Nelson Bros on Instagram
2016

Western Bulldogs win AFL Premiership
2016

Interactive website with online funeral planning
2015

Water discovered on Mars
2013

Theo J. Nelson celebrates 60 years in the funeral industry
2013

Head Office & Operations Centre opens in Port Melbourne
2012

Nelson Bros on Facebook
2011

New Rolls Royce Phantoms added to fleet
2010

Purchase of Mortuary & Funeral Educators training business
2009

Nelson Bros launches online Memorials
2008

Nelson Bros celebrates 150th Anniversary
2007

Adrian Nelson made Paul Harris Fellow
Kevin Rudd becomes Prime Minister
2006

Commonwealth Games in Melbourne
2004

Population of Australia reaches 20,091,504
2002

Purchase of Bathurst Lonergan Funerals in Kooyong Road, Elsternwick
2001

Adrian Nelson joins Nelson Bros
2001

September 11 attacks
2000

Olympic Games in Sydney
1998

Open funeral home in Heaths Road, Hoppers Crossing
1997

Williamstown Funeral Home moves to historic rifle range armory
Princess Diana dies in Paris, France
1995

First Nelson Bros website is launched
John Howard elected Prime Minister
1992

Nelson Bros wins Pursuit of Excellence Award for the third consecutive year and receive Emeritus Status
1990

Nelson Bros wins Pursuit of Excellence Award from NFDA
Nelson Mandela released from Victor Verster Prison after 27 years behind bars
1989

Theo J. Nelson made Paul Harris Fellow
1988

Theo J. Nelson made fellow of the British Institute of Embalmers
1987

Bereavement Resource Centre opens in Ferguson Street, Williamstown
1986

Priscilla Nelson joins Nelson Bros
Crocodile Dundee released in Australia
1984

T. Robert Nelson joins Nelson Bros
1983

Australia wins the America's Cup
1980

Theo W. Nelson Dies
1975

Dismissal of Gough Whitlam as Prime Minister
1974

Theo J. Nelson is President of the Australian Funeral Directors Association
New funeral home at 7 Droop Street, Footscray opens
1973

Sydney Opera House opens
1970

Nelson Bros ceases production of coffins
1970

West Gate Bridge collapse
1969

Apollo 11 lands on the moon
1967

New funeral home opened in Devonshire Road, Sunshine
1966

The Australian currency is decimalised to dollars and cents
1964

The Beatles tour Australia
1961

Australia enters the Vietnam War
1958

James A. Nelson dies
1957

Theo W. Nelson is President of Australian Funeral Directors Associaton
Elvis moves to Graceland
1956

Theo W. Nelson made life member of Williamstown Football Club
1956

Olympic Games in Melbourne
1954

Footscray wins VFL Premiership
1953

Theo J. Nelson joins Nelson Bros
1953

Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
1950

Australian troops sent to the Korean War
1949

Robert Menzies re-elected Prime Minister
1948

James A. Nelson is President of Australian Funeral Directors Association
1946

Foundation Day is renamed Australia Day
1945

WWII ends
1940

Howard Florey develops penicillin
1940

New funeral home built in Douglas Parade, Williamstown
1939

Footscray Funeral Home moves to Droop Street
1939

WWII commences
1936

James A. Nelson is Mayor of Williamstown
1932

Sydney Harbour Bridge opens
1929

Wall Street crashes
1929

James A. Nelson opens funeral home in Victoria Street Footscray
1927

Australian Parliament first - Canberra
1923

Vegemite is produced
1922

The Sun News-Pictorial is first published
1921

Theo W. Nelson opens funeral home in Douglas Parade, Williamstown
Norman Nelson continues to operate Linton Funeral Home
1920

Airline Qantas is founded
1918

WWI ends
1914

James Nelson dies
Theo W. Nelson and Norman Nelson change name to "Nelson Bros"
1914

WWI commences
1910

Myer Emporium founded
1901

Commonwealth of Australia is born
Barton becomes the first Prime Minister
1900

James Nelson Captain of Linton Fire Brigade
1896

First Modern Olympic Games held in Athens, Greece
1893

Robert Simeon Nelson dies
1893

Hoadley's make first Violet Crumble
1889

The Eiffel Tower is inaugurated
1884

Mark Twain publishes Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
1880

Many Chinese burials in Linton during Gold Rush
Bushranger Ned Kelly is hanged
1876

Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone
1870

Business expanded to include ironmongery and "associated requirements"
1868

Suez Canal opens, linking the Mediterranean to the Red Sea
1864

Robert Simeon Nelson marries Mary Ann Dawe
1864

Williamstown Football Club forms
1861

Melbourne Zoo opens
1859

Charles Darwin publishes Origin of Species
1858

Robert Simeon Nelson starts business as carpenter, cabinet-maker and undertaker in Linton
1854

The Age is first published
1852

Robert Simeon Nelson arrives in Australia from New York on board the Epaminondas