Percy Boland Adams, his son-in-law and a noted Nelson solicitor, took it over and was responsible for developing the gardens. His son, Noel Percy Adams, inherited the property in 1932.
On his death in 1945, it was left to the Women's Division of Federated Farmers. Mrs Adams had a long association with the organisation, including a term as Dominion President. The WDFF used the house as a rest home for over twenty years, but by 1973 its use was no longer required, and the gift of the property reverted to the Nelson City Council. After much public debate the gift was accepted and the house is currently used as a venue for social functions. It is run by the Melrose Society which is restoring the interior of the house.
List Entry Information
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 1
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
259
Date Entered
28th June 1990
Date of Effect
28th June 1990
City/District Council
Nelson City
Region
Nelson Region
Legal description
Secs 1091 1093 City of Nelson RT IC/201,IC/46,2D/185,2D/199
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 1
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
259
Date Entered
28th June 1990
Date of Effect
28th June 1990
City/District Council
Nelson City
Region
Nelson Region
Legal description
Secs 1091 1093 City of Nelson RT IC/201,IC/46,2D/185,2D/199
Why is this place significant?
Historic Significance
Historical Significance or Value This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Melrose is a well preserved example of the grand houses erected in prominent locations by the wealthy and successful settlers of Nelson. C.F.W. Watts who commissioned the house was a wealthy early resident of Nelson, and his son-in-law, P.B. Adams, who developed the gardens, was a member of the influential Adams family of Marlborough. Many of these houses have now disappeared from Nelson, but Melrose remains as a valuable community asset for the future.
Physical Significance
This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. ARCHITECTURAL QUALITY: Melrose is noteworthy for its scholarly Classical design, unusual at a time when High Victorian eclecticism was at its zenith. It is nevertheless a most successful adaptation to wood of Classical forms, normally built in stone Stone was considered to be a nobler building material and thus more appropriate for such a grand house, but the expense would probably have dictated that the more cheaply available wood be used. Few houses designed by Scotland now remain. TOWNSCAPE/LANDMARK VALUE Melrose was once a prominent 'building in Nelson but the trees planted around the grounds now obscure it from view.
Why is this place significant?
Historic Significance
Historical Significance or Value This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Melrose is a well preserved example of the grand houses erected in prominent locations by the wealthy and successful settlers of Nelson. C.F.W. Watts who commissioned the house was a wealthy early resident of Nelson, and his son-in-law, P.B. Adams, who developed the gardens, was a member of the influential Adams family of Marlborough. Many of these houses have now disappeared from Nelson, but Melrose remains as a valuable community asset for the future.
Physical Significance
This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. ARCHITECTURAL QUALITY: Melrose is noteworthy for its scholarly Classical design, unusual at a time when High Victorian eclecticism was at its zenith. It is nevertheless a most successful adaptation to wood of Classical forms, normally built in stone Stone was considered to be a nobler building material and thus more appropriate for such a grand house, but the expense would probably have dictated that the more cheaply available wood be used. Few houses designed by Scotland now remain. TOWNSCAPE/LANDMARK VALUE Melrose was once a prominent 'building in Nelson but the trees planted around the grounds now obscure it from view.
Construction Professional
Name
Scotland, John
Type
Architect
Biography
Little information exists regarding John Scotland's career. He is known to have practised as an architect in Nelson from 1867 until the late 1870s. He was an architect of some reputation, as he designed many of the large houses for the city's wealthy residents. These included the house which now contains the Cawthorn Institute, "Muritai" (now demolished) and Fellworth.
Construction Details
Start Year
1881
Type
Original Construction
Construction Materials
Timber framed weatherboard house. Corrugated galvanised iron roofing. Interior walls of lath and plaster.
Construction Professional
Name
Scotland, John
Type
Architect
Biography
Little information exists regarding John Scotland's career. He is known to have practised as an architect in Nelson from 1867 until the late 1870s. He was an architect of some reputation, as he designed many of the large houses for the city's wealthy residents. These included the house which now contains the Cawthorn Institute, "Muritai" (now demolished) and Fellworth.
Construction Details
Start Year
1881
Type
Original Construction
Construction Materials
Timber framed weatherboard house. Corrugated galvanised iron roofing. Interior walls of lath and plaster.
This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION: Melrose is a large dwelling in a Classical style. It is two-storeyed and sited above a well-planted sloping garden. The main aspect faces north. It has a gable roofed wing to the left of the main entrance and a verandah which runs around to the west face of the house, to the right. The square verandah columns have ornate acanthus moulded capitals and are clustered to emphasise the main entrance. The house has tall and narrow, round-headed windows, placed in pairs or triplets around all sides of the house. The eaves and verandah cornice are boldly embellished with dentils and brackets. The wide rusticated weatherboarding is finished with quoins. At the north and west wings are boldly pedimented gables below which bay windows project on the ground floor. Melrose has a typically Victorian plan with the main passageway running directly from the front door to the back of the house and living rooms opening off either side. The central staircase has ornate balustrading and a square domed skylight above. The living rooms have many Victorian features including dados, picture rails, deeply moulded window and fire surrounds, and plaster relief ceilings. MODIFICATIONS: Date unknown - Chimneys remodelled. - Original slate roof replaced with corrugated iron. 1980s - interior alterations to kitchen and rooms on east side of house. Caretakers quarters upstairs modernised.
This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION: Melrose is a large dwelling in a Classical style. It is two-storeyed and sited above a well-planted sloping garden. The main aspect faces north. It has a gable roofed wing to the left of the main entrance and a verandah which runs around to the west face of the house, to the right. The square verandah columns have ornate acanthus moulded capitals and are clustered to emphasise the main entrance. The house has tall and narrow, round-headed windows, placed in pairs or triplets around all sides of the house. The eaves and verandah cornice are boldly embellished with dentils and brackets. The wide rusticated weatherboarding is finished with quoins. At the north and west wings are boldly pedimented gables below which bay windows project on the ground floor. Melrose has a typically Victorian plan with the main passageway running directly from the front door to the back of the house and living rooms opening off either side. The central staircase has ornate balustrading and a square domed skylight above. The living rooms have many Victorian features including dados, picture rails, deeply moulded window and fire surrounds, and plaster relief ceilings. MODIFICATIONS: Date unknown - Chimneys remodelled. - Original slate roof replaced with corrugated iron. 1980s - interior alterations to kitchen and rooms on east side of house. Caretakers quarters upstairs modernised.
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Completion Date
5th March 1990
Information Sources
Christchurch Star
Christchurch Star
Wises Post Office Directories
Wises Post Office Directories
Nelson Evening Mail
Nelson Evening Mail
Colonist
The Colonist
Nelson City Council
Nelson City Council
Other Information
A copy of this report is available from the NZHPT Central Region office Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions. This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration.
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Completion Date
5th March 1990
Information Sources
Christchurch Star
Christchurch Star
Wises Post Office Directories
Wises Post Office Directories
Nelson Evening Mail
Nelson Evening Mail
Colonist
The Colonist
Nelson City Council
Nelson City Council
Other Information
A copy of this report is available from the NZHPT Central Region office Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions. This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration.
Current Usages
Uses: Civic Facilities
Specific Usage: Conference centre
Former Usages
General Usage: Accommodation
Specific Usage: House
Current Usages
Uses: Civic Facilities
Specific Usage: Conference centre
Former Usages
General Usage: Accommodation
Specific Usage: House
Location
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