 Dickson arrived in Brisbane in 1862, and was in business with Arthur Martin as an auctioneer and land agent until August 1864 when the partnership was dissolved.Martin continued business under his own name, and Dickson formed a new partnership with James Duncan, as general auctioneers and land and commission agents.The firms of A Martin and Dickson and Duncan appear to have been responsible for much of the land subdivision and sales in Brisbane during the mid-late 1860s.