South Street

History isn’t only found in grand old houses or fine public buildings. The nineteenth century working class cottages of Nelson’s South Street tell stories as important as those told by such large Nelson homes as Broadgreen and Isel Park. It is one of the most interesting of New Zealand’s clusters of older cottages.

These cottages built for local tradesmen are a stone’s throw from the Rutherford Hotel and the Cathedral and make an interesting contrast with the larger buildings. Most were constructed between 1863 and 1865. Although they’ve been restored to a state that is probably much more attractive than they ever were when first built, it’s a pleasure to see their well-painted exteriors adorned with flower boxes.