Heritage New Zealand

History of Melrose House

Melrose House (architect John Scotland) is built of heart Rimu in classical Victorian style with its main aspect facing north. The House has a Category 1 classification with Heritage New Zealand.

The Origin of Melrose House

Melrose House was built in 1879/80 for Charles Fowell Watts who arrived in Nelson aged 17, a cadet member of the NZ Company’s Survey staff sent out from England on the ship Will Watch in 1841.

Charles helped survey Nelson and surrounding areas before acquiring a grant of land to farm in Marlborough. Five month after Charles died his eldest daughter Frances married Percy Bolland Adams, a Nelson lawyer, who became the owner of Melrose.

Percy Adams at Melrose after successful deer stalking trip with Capt de Crespiguiquy 1899

View of stables and garden from SW c1918

Col Noel Percy Adams addressing crowd at official presentation and opening of WDFU Melrose Rest Home in 1944

A Family's Journey

Charles married Elizabeth Nixon at Nelson Cathedral in 1852. Elizabeth arrived in Nelson with her family as a 7 year old in 1842. After their marriage, Charles and Elizabeth lived on the Marlborough Sheep Station before coming back to Nelson with their three sons and 2 daughters.

The family lived in a house behind the Cathedral with the boys attending Nelson College. While on a visit to relations in England another daughter Flora was born in 1867 at Melrose Place, Clifton – Flora died in Nelson aged 11.

Tenders to build Melrose were sought in 1879 with the family living here in 1881. When Charles died in 1881 – Elizabeth left Melrose to live with a widowed daughter inn England where she died in 1915 age 80.

Melrose from road c1920

Percy Bolland Adams c1895

Noel Percy Adams c1905

Legacy of Ownership

Five month after Charles died his eldest daughter Frances married Percy Bolland Adams, a Nelson lawyer, who became the owner of Melrose. Their son Noel Percy was born here in 1882. Percy took an interest in civic affairs and had a great love of the outdoors. He was responsible for the planting of the Heritage trees in the Garden which covered five acres. Frances was an accomplished soprano and sang at many concerts. She died here in 1905.

In 1919 Percy married Julia Murray, a past Matron of Nelson Hospital. When Percy died ten years later, Julia continued living here until her death in 1939 when Noel inherited the property.

During WWI Colonel Noel Percy Adams was Commandant of the Featherston Military Camp until 1919, when he and his wife Eileen decided not to return to Melrose but choosing to pioneer a farm on Auckland’s East Coast, where they became very prominent in the farming community, Eileen becoming President of the Women’s Division, Farmers Union.

Percy Adams at Melrose House with dogs Shot, Rover, Tojo, Waka & Bang

Frances Adams and sister Mary garden Melrose c1886

Noel & Eileen Adams c1922 at Matingarahi Farm Clevedon

From Gift to Legacy

In 1944 Colonel Noel Percy and his wife Eileen gifted the Melrose property to the Women’s Division Farmers Union (now WDFF) to be used as a rest home for country women.

By the 1970’s it became uneconomical to continue, consequently a Trust Deed set up by the Adams came into operation whereby the citizens of Nelson became the owners. Noel died in 1954 aged 72, Eileen in 1965 aged 76. Both are buried at their farm.

The Colonel Noel Percy Adams Trust (Melrose Society) was formed in 1974 when the Nelson City Council officially accepted the gift of Melrose House & Gardens.

The Society is responsible for the restoration and maintenance of the interior of the House and promoting its use to the community. The City Council maintain the exterior and Gardens.

Eileen Noel & Percy Adams at Melrose House c1912

Preservation for Generations

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