After receiving a BA (Hons) from Melbourne University, Jim Davidson continued his studies at Rhodes University, completing an MA thesis on Anthony Trollope's South Africa. While working in London, he was offered the position of editor of Meanjin. After a tense period of transition with Clem Christesen, Davidson was officially instated as editor in 1975, continuing in that position until 1982.
Davidson has taught for many years at Victoria University (formerly Footscray University of Technology). He completed his PhD thesis at Melbourne University on the philanthropist and music publisher Louise Hanson-Dyer in 1992 and has also been opera critic for the Age. His work on Hanson-Dyer was published in book form in 1994. His most recent book (with Peter Spearritt) is Holiday Business: Tourism in Australia since 1870 (2000).