Todds Valley: History by Oldham Creek

Todds Valley is closely connected with Oldham Creek and a locally handed-down story. The stream bed is surrounded by houses, but follows a largely natural course. This connection between settlement and stream gives the area’s description a specific focus: alongside the landscape, local names and stories also play a part. When choosing your holiday accommodation, you can consider whether this mix of local history and landscape suits your travel interests.

Oldham Creek: landscape and local lore

Oldham Creek is named after John Oldham, who lived in Dodson Valley. According to local lore, Oldham and Dodson were once the only residents of the immediate area. The creek’s name thus connects a specific place with a story about the people who lived there.

The creek’s landscape is also described in specific terms: houses surround its bed, which otherwise follows a largely natural course. In the vicinity of Todds Valley, the lower reaches of Oldham Creek are home to inanga, smelt, banded kōkopu, eels and koura (freshwater crayfish). For nature lovers, both the waterway’s course and the species found in its lower reaches are part of the area’s character.

Stories from nearby Atawhai

John Oldham is also believed to be the namesake of Atawhai. The name means “showing kindness or generosity”. It was later adopted for the district when a post office was established in John Oldham’s house. The story behind the name thus links its meaning with a specific historical context in the area near Todds Valley.

Another historical point of interest in Atawhai is “Burnside”, the former home of the Black family. It is associated with John Black and his family, and is considered to be the oldest surviving house in Atawhai. The property is a private residence, so its history is best understood as part of the area’s local and architectural heritage.

Burnside is a late Victorian villa with a square floor plan. It was built to maximise the view northwest across Nelson Haven and the Boulder Bank; at the same time, the building retains a remarkably high degree of exterior authenticity. The story behind Atawhai’s name and the architecture of Burnside offer different ways to explore the history of the surrounding area.

Getting around by bus

A route description from 2018 lists Nelson bus route 3 as running from the city through The Wood to Tresillian Avenue in Atawhai, with a loop through Dodson Valley. Check current timetable details before travelling. The route information may be a helpful guide when planning, but should not be assumed to reflect the current timetable without checking.

Nelson City: culture and history

Nelson City offers its own cultural and historical focus. The Theatre Royal is New Zealand’s oldest purpose-built theatre still used for its original purpose. It is privately owned and generally not open to the public. The Trafalgar Street area has been Nelson’s commercial centre for more than a century. At historic Albion Square, in the heart of Nelson City, plaques on Hardy Street and Bridge Street provide information about the square and its features.

Art and regional history also shape Nelson City. The Suter Memorial Art Gallery was built in 1899 in memory of Anglican Bishop Andrew Burn Suter. The Nelson Provincial Museum’s Regional Gallery focuses on Te Tauihu, the top of the South Island from Tasman Bay to Golden Bay, and explores the history and identity of the region. The museum is in the heart of Nelson City.

Another distinctive feature of Nelson City’s landscape is Boulder Bank Scenic Reserve: a rare, 13-kilometre-long shingle bank that protects Nelson Harbour. When choosing your accommodation, you can weigh up whether Todds Valley’s local creek and place-name history or Nelson City’s cultural, historical and landscape attractions better match your planned focus.

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