Melrose Gardens (Public)
Melrose Gardens surround Melrose Historic House, which features a very popular café and is also is available to hire for weddings and other events.
The house was built circa 1879 with the gardens established soon after. Many of the trees date back to the 1890s.
These include:
· A Moreton Bay Fig or Ficus macrophylla,
· Lawson Cypress or Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (around 30 metres high)
· A large Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) dominates the garden.
The garden features other planting from the original settlers - some for very practical purposes. The Camphor tree, Cinnamomum camphora is a native of east Asia, mainly China and Japan. An oil can be distilled from the leathery leaves. Traditionally camphor was used as a cure for cold and related illnesses.
The rose collection:
An attractive selection of David Austin old English roses are found around the base of Melrose House in three rose beds. These include The Dark Lady, William Shakespeare, The Squire, Fallstaff, LD Braithwaite, Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Fair Bianca and English Elegance.
New Zealand natives
Karaka can be found in concentrated numbers in the garden and there is a stately Totara or Podocarpus totara.
The garden also features more recent plantings of native trees - Titoki and the golden flowered Kowhai, which is much loved by tui which visit in large numbers when they flower in spring.
Opening Hours and Tariffs
Melrose Gardens open year round
Garden etnry is free
Cafe bookings phone (03) 548 9179
Contact Details and Location
Physical Address: 26 Brougham St, Nelson City 7010
Phone: 03 546 0200
Email: enquiries@ncc.govt.nz
Website: https://www.melrosehouse.co.nz/
Facilities and Amenities
Melrose House is available for funtions, wedding, etc. See contct details above.
