This tree was one of two oaks known as the Suter Oaks which were felled on 13 August 2012 to make way for the proposed redevelopment of the Suter Art Gallery. It is thought that at least one of the 2 oaks (most likely record NNR/1187) was planted in February 1892 as part of a double or even triple commemoration - firstly for the opening of the Queen's Gardens, which was in itself Nelson's commemoration of Queen Victoria's 1887 Jubilee; and also for 1892 being the 50th year of Nelson as a colonial settlement (Beaumont, 2011, ref: 1). The trees were located on the western side of the Eel Pond, adjacent to the original Suter Gallery. Although the land this tree was planted on was later purchased by the Bishop Suter Art Gallery Trust, the trees and the woodland path have historically been considered to be part of the setting of the Queen's Gardens (Beaumont, L. 2011, ref: 2). Both trees were listed as 'of local significance' in the Nelson City Council District Plan, however the history of the trees was not known at the time of listing (Brinkman, E. 2014).
References
1) 'Landscape Conservation Plan, Queen's Gardens, Nelson', 2011. Beaumont, L. Section 2.2.7 pp 20-21.
2) 'Landscape Conservation Plan Queen's Gardens, Nelson', 2011. Beaumont, L. Section 3.3.1
3) Suter Oaks Finally Felled (Nelson Mail, Monday 13 August, 2012)