Nelson City Council

The trees listed below were selected for their historic value, age, size or rarity in Nelson. Most are located on public land and are readily accessible.

Many are identified by number on this map, which opens into a new tab (77KB JPG).

 See Appendix 2 of Nelson Resource Management Plan (192KB PDF)for the full register of all listed trees.

Heritage trees

1. Quercus robur, (Fell Oak), Road Reserve, 4 Seymour Avenue, Nelson. Planted 1842-43. Shortly after planting, the tree was washed away in a flood but found later on the Maitai River bank and replanted on higher ground. Probably the first English Oak planted in the region. 

2. Isel Park has many trees planted by Thomas Marsden that are now outstanding for their kind, some the largest of the species known in New Zealand. llex aquifolium (Holly) c.1850. Liriodendron tulipifera (Tulip Tree), c.1850, tallest known in New Zealand. Pinus canariensis (Canary Island Pine c.1850 Pinus nigra var. maritma (Corsican Pine) c.1850, outstanding example. Pinus radiata (Radiata Pine) c.1850, one of a group of possible the first planted in New Zealand. Sequoiadendron giganteum (Californian Big Tree) c.1856. 

3. Sequoiadendron giganteum (Californian Big Tree, The Songer Tree) c.1900, 52 Britannia Heights, Nelson. A gift from John Hale, planted by the City Council, Arbor Day 1900 under direction of William Songer, in memory of Captain Wakefield. Planted in location were the flagstaff was erected and the British flag hoisted to mark the landing of the expedition of the New Zealand Company in 1841. 

4. Queens Gardens also has a number of outstanding trees. They include Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Dawn Redwood, pictured left) planted 1951, one of the largest in New Zealand. A 2009 NZ survey concluded that this tree has the second largest girth and is ranked fifth, combining height, girth and spread, in the country. Abies spectabilis (Himalayan Fir), c.1892. Chamaecyparis funebris (Chinese Weeping Cypress), Prunus serrulata 'Tibetica' (Black Bark Cherry), planting dates unknown. Araucaria bidwillii (Bunya Bunya Pine), c.1892. 

5. Sequoia sempervirens (Redwood, pictured right), Wakapuaka, planted c.1856. The largest (combination diameter and height) tree of this species in New Zealand. Access by permission of the owner. 

6. Church Hill, Nelson, contains many old trees noted for their size. They include Sequoia sempervirens (Redwood) c.1892, noted for its pendulous branches. Eucalyptus pilularis (Blackbutt Gum) c.1892. Cedrus deodara (Himalayan Cedar), c.1892.

7. Albion Square, the site of the original Provincial Chambers and now the location of the Government Buildings and Courthouse has several notable trees. They include Quercus suber (Cork Oak) c.1857 an outstanding tree of its type. Taxus baccata (English Yew), planting date unknown. Sequoiadendron giganteum (Californian Big Tree), four trees in a row thought to mark the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone in 1857. Pinus wallichiana (Bhutan Pine), planting date unknown. 

8. Anzac Memorial Park has many large trees, one of which is especially notable and possibly the largest in New Zealand; Ulmus americana (American White Elm), planting date unknown. 

9. Fellworth House, Milton Street, later the location of the Cawthron Institute, has many fine trees which were planted by John Sharp who bought the land as a block of bush and built his house "Fellworth". Fellworth House is now in private ownership at 193 Milton Street where many of Sharp's trees still survive. Access by permission of the owner.

The property is adjacent to the Botanics Reserve which also has many notable trees including several London planes (Platanus x hispanica) among the tallest recorded in New Zealand. There are some remarkable Populus nigra 'italica' (Lombardy Poplars).

The present location of the Cawthron Institute at 172 Milton Street has several large trees in the grounds including two notable conifers, Araucaria bidwillii (Bunya Bunya Pine), and Sequoiadendron giganteum, (Californian Big Tree), all planted c.1870 by Charles J. Harley. 

Further information may be obtained from the Parks and Recreation Department, Nelson City Council, by email or phone +64 3 546 0204.

10. Fairfield Park, an early settlers' cemetery established in 1851 was originally named Copenhagen Square, a military reserve, 1841. Notable trees include Pinus contorta (syn. P. murrayana), Lodgepole Pine, planted in the old cemetery on Arbor Day 1934 by Rev. S.M. O'Connell, Sequoia sempervirens, Nyssa sylvatica (Tupelo) and Liriodendron tulipifera (Tulip Tree), planting dates unknow. Also Cupressus sempevirens var. sempevirens (Mediterranean Cypress), planting date unknown. 

11. Chapel of Holy Evangelists, Waimea Road, Bishopdale. This was built in 1877 for the Anglican Church Bishop and students of Bishopdale Theological College, now the Bishop's private chapel, and has a number of fine old trees in the grounds. They include Quercus robur (common English Oak), planted 1864 by Edmund and Walter, the young sons of Edmund Hobhouse, the first Bishop of Nelson, Pinus radiata (Radiata Pine), planted about the turn of the century, Araucaria bidwillii (Bunya Bunya Pine), Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (Lawson Cypress), planting dates unknown. 

12. Broadgreen House, Nayland Road, Stoke, was built in cob for Edmund Buxton about 1855 and now has several larger trees in the grounds. They include Eucalyptus globulus (Tasmanian Blue Gum) c.1860 by Edmund Buxton. Sequoiadendron giganteum (Californian Big Tree, pictured left), planted by Edmund Buxton c.1856. 

13. Nelson Central School in Nile Street East has some large, old trees. One, Araucaria cunninghamil (Hoop Pine), Eight Tilia sp. (Lime), is said to have bounded the old horse cemetery. 

14. Melrose House was built in 1876-7 for the Watts family and has a number of large, old trees, the most notable being a Sequoia sempervirens (Redwood) planted by C. F. Watts at some unknown date. It towers above all other trees in the neighbourhood. 

15. Eucalyptus globulus (Tasmanium Blue Gum), entrance gates of Nelson College for Girls, c.1847 by Mrs Adams, wife of Henry Adams who then owned the property. 

More information on trees

Further information may be obtained from the Parks and Recreation Department, Nelson City Council, by email  or phone +64 3 546 0204.

You can also visit the noteable trees website, and even search for trees on that site through the tree search.