The system of land districts came together in an ad hoc fashion, and the Nelson district started to be subdivided in 1858 well before any thought was given to formally defining its boundaries.[2]
Towns and areas
Towns
The Nelson district contains the following current or former townsites:[3]
Under the Land Act 1898, the Agricultural Lands Purchase Act 1896, and preceding regulations, it was open to the Governor to declare agricultural areas on crown land or repurchased estates on private land, to which special provisions applied for both alienation and improvement. Many of these estates came into being shortly after World War I for the purposes of soldier resettlement.