[6][7] It opened in its first form in 1842, making it New Zealand's first and oldest museum.

[8] The Suter Art Gallery was established in 1899,[9][10] Other public reserves and facilities in the area include Anzac Memorial Park, Erin Reserve, Hallowell Cemetery, Old Bank Lane Gardens, Paru Paru Reserve, Princes Lookout Reserve, Quakers Acre Cemetery, Queens Gardens, the Riverside Reserve and Pool Complex, and Rutherford Park.

[5] The Nelson Central-Trafalgar statistical area covers 1.25 km2 (0.48 sq mi).

The percentage of people born overseas was 39.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 52.0% had no religion, 27.1% were Christian, 0.9% had Māori religious beliefs, 8.0% were Hindu, 1.8% were Muslim, 3.1% were Buddhist and 4.0% had other religions.