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.
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2019
Notre Dame Cathedral fire
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2018
Nelson Bros on Instagram
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2016
Western Bulldogs win AFL Premiership
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2016
Interactive website with online funeral planning
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2015
Water discovered on Mars
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2013
Theo J. Nelson celebrates 60 years in the funeral industry
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2013
Head Office & Operations Centre opens in Port Melbourne
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2012
Nelson Bros on Facebook
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2011
New Rolls Royce Phantoms added to fleet
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2010
Purchase of Mortuary & Funeral Educators training business
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2009
Nelson Bros launches online Memorials
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2008
Nelson Bros celebrates 150th Anniversary
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2007
Adrian Nelson made Paul Harris Fellow
Kevin Rudd becomes Prime Minister -
2006
Commonwealth Games in Melbourne
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2004
Population of Australia reaches 20,091,504
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2002
Purchase of Bathurst Lonergan Funerals in Kooyong Road, Elsternwick
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2001
Adrian Nelson joins Nelson Bros
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2001
September 11 attacks
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2000
Olympic Games in Sydney
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1998
Open funeral home in Heaths Road, Hoppers Crossing
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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
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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
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1988
Theo J. Nelson made fellow of the British Institute of Embalmers
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1987
Bereavement Resource Centre opens in Ferguson Street, Williamstown
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1986
Priscilla Nelson joins Nelson Bros
Crocodile Dundee released in Australia -
1984
T. Robert Nelson joins Nelson Bros
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1983
Australia wins the America's Cup
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1980
Theo W. Nelson Dies
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1975
Dismissal of Gough Whitlam as Prime Minister
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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
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1970
Nelson Bros ceases production of coffins
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1970
West Gate Bridge collapse
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1969
Apollo 11 lands on the moon
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1967
New funeral home opened in Devonshire Road, Sunshine
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1966
The Australian currency is decimalised to dollars and cents
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1964
The Beatles tour Australia
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1961
Australia enters the Vietnam War
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1958
James A. Nelson dies
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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
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1956
Olympic Games in Melbourne
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1954
Footscray wins VFL Premiership
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1953
Theo J. Nelson joins Nelson Bros
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1953
Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
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1950
Australian troops sent to the Korean War
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1949
Robert Menzies re-elected Prime Minister
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1948
James A. Nelson is President of Australian Funeral Directors Association
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1946
Foundation Day is renamed Australia Day
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1945
WWII ends
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1940
Howard Florey develops penicillin
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1940
New funeral home built in Douglas Parade, Williamstown
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1939
Footscray Funeral Home moves to Droop Street
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1939
WWII commences
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1936
James A. Nelson is Mayor of Williamstown
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1932
Sydney Harbour Bridge opens
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1929
Wall Street crashes
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1929
James A. Nelson opens funeral home in Victoria Street Footscray
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1927
Australian Parliament first - Canberra
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1923
Vegemite is produced
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1922
The Sun News-Pictorial is first published
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1921
Theo W. Nelson opens funeral home in Douglas Parade, Williamstown
Norman Nelson continues to operate Linton Funeral Home -
1920
Airline Qantas is founded
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1918
WWI ends
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1914
James Nelson dies
Theo W. Nelson and Norman Nelson change name to "Nelson Bros" -
1914
WWI commences
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1910
Myer Emporium founded
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1901
Commonwealth of Australia is born
Barton becomes the first Prime Minister -
1900
James Nelson Captain of Linton Fire Brigade
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1896
First Modern Olympic Games held in Athens, Greece
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1893
Robert Simeon Nelson dies
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1893
Hoadley's make first Violet Crumble
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1889
The Eiffel Tower is inaugurated
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1884
Mark Twain publishes Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
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1880
Many Chinese burials in Linton during Gold Rush
Bushranger Ned Kelly is hanged -
1876
Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone
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1870
Business expanded to include ironmongery and "associated requirements"
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1868
Suez Canal opens, linking the Mediterranean to the Red Sea
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1864
Robert Simeon Nelson marries Mary Ann Dawe
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1864
Williamstown Football Club forms
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1861
Melbourne Zoo opens
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1859
Charles Darwin publishes Origin of Species
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1858
Robert Simeon Nelson starts business as carpenter, cabinet-maker and undertaker in Linton
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1854
The Age is first published
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1852
Robert Simeon Nelson arrives in Australia from New York on board the Epaminondas