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Nelson Historical Society Journal, Volume 3, Issue 1, October 1974
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Cotterell, in December 1842, found the Tophouse or Wairau Pass and saw the grassy plains of the Wairau Valley.
After the Wairau Massacre, Morse and Cooper drove sheep through this pass into the head of the Wairau at Tophouse. Then Mr George Duppa took up land at Birch Hill and others followed.
By 1850 the valley had been opened up to settlers and the following were the first licensed to occupy runs there.
| Owner | Run |
| N. G. Morse | Top House |
| Geo. Duppa | Birch Hill |
| J. F. Wilson | Part of Birch Hill |
| A. G. Jenkins | Hillersden |
| E. D. Sweet | Hillersden Cattle Run |
| C. F. Watts | Lansdowne |
| G. W. Schroder | Erina |
| D. Monro | Bankhouse |
| Joseph Ward | Brookby |
| J. Alison | Avondale |
| W. H. Shepherd | Summerlands |
| F. Witherby | Te Arowhenua |
| F. Vickerman | Stronvar |
| E. Green | The Delta |
| W. O. Cautley | Part of Benhopai |
| C. & F. Kelling | Castle Run (part of Benhopai) |
| C. A. Dillon | Leafield |
In 1953, Captain MacKenzie, retired Bombay Infantry, visited Australia and New Zealand.
From Wellington he sailed to Flaxbourne and then set out for Nelson:—