He was educated at the Elfred House Private School kept by William Timothy Cape at Paddington. At 14 years of age, Dixson went to work at a timber yard for Phillip McMahon. In 1856, he joined the tobacco business founded by his father, and became a partner in it in 1864.
Dixson's early life involved education at Elfred House Private School run by William Timothy Cape in Paddington. At 14, Dixson began working at a timber yard for Phillip McMahon. In 1856, he joined his father's tobacco business and became a partner four years later.