Nelson Province was constituted in 1853 under the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852, and originally covered the entire upper South Island, including all of present-day Buller, Kaikoura, Marlborough, and Tasman districts, along with Nelson City, Grey District north of the Grey River, and the Hurunui District north of the Hurunui River.

[1] There was considerable conflict between Superintendent John Perry Robinson's policies of supporting smaller land holders, and the objectives of the large pastoral run-holders in the Wairau Valley.

[4] The election of Nelson's first superintendent was contested by three candidates; Edward Stafford, Francis Jollie and John Waring Saxton.

The election took place on 1 August 1853 and resulted in Edward Stafford being Nelson's first superintendent.

It was designed by visiting architect Maxwell Bury and he modeled it on Aston Hall near Birmingham.

The buildings were run down and had stood empty for some years when they were demolished in 1969, amidst much controversy.