Edward Dixon was born at Worksop, England on 10th August 1825, the 9th of eleven children. At the age of 22 he married Mary Greenwood and they had two children, George and Clara. Edward was employed as a servant at the time of his marriage and became engaged in various occupations prior to his departure from England to New Zealand. One position he filled was under the control of the Duke of Portland's head gardener.

Edward Dixon left England in November 1852 on the 'Royal Albert', with his second wife, Catherine Shepherd (whom he married earlier that year) and the children from his first marriage. They arrived in Wellington on March 30, 1853.

Upon arrival in New Zealand, Edward worked with his brother, Charles, who owned a small farm at Karori. After a short period of time on this farm, and subsequent employment at Mr. Peter Laing's confectionery shop on Lambton Quay, he commenced business on his own account as a ginger beer maker in Cuba Street.

Edward Dixon first advertised for ginger beer bottles in the two local Wellington papers of the day from 14th to 25th January 1854, suggesting he was about to launch into the manufacture of aerated water.

When Edward began his business, Cuba Street was not much more than swampy farmland.

There had been only one house on the street as late as 1850, and it wasn't until after the 1855 earthquake that it became possible to build more houses there. The earthquake raised the land in the area by about five feet and subsequently drained it.

Catherine Dixon possessed considerable energy and business tact and with this valuable assistance Edward was able to build up a very lucrative trade. As the city grew, so did "Dixon's Ginger Beer Shop" as it as familiarly known.

Among the drinks made by Dixon were lemonade, soda water, tonic water and sarsaparilla. He also manufactured a large range of syrups, bitters and cordials.

In 1875, Edward Dixon helped his eldest son, George, establish a small factory in Sydney Street, Thorndon then in 1876 he retired after accumulating sufficient means to enable him to live in comfort for the remainder of his days with his third wife, Amelia Ester Kemp (who Edward married in May 1875). Edward's Cuba Street business was then acquired by his eldest son, George, who managed to expand the business considerably.

Altogether Edward Dixon had 16 children; five sons and eleven daughters. He died at his Cuba Street residence at the age of 65 and was buried alongside his second wife, Catherine, in the Bolton Street Cemetery.

Four of Edward's children were involved in the manufacture of aerated water in some fashion.

-George (cordial manufacturer, Cuba Street, Wellington),

-Mary (married William Beck cordial manufacturer, Palmerston North),

-Joseph (cordial manufacturer, Masterton) and

-Shep (cordial maker, Palmerston North).