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Gouland Downs are named after Henry Godfrey Gouland who was born in London in 1801.

He became a business man and in 1841 he bought two allotments in Nelson. In 1847 Gouland arrived in Wellington in the ship London. In November 1847 he walked from Nelson through Top House and the Wairau Plain to the mouth of the Wairau River to interview William Budge. On the way the only people he spoke to were George McRae, John Kerr, Dr Cooper (Top House), and William Sweet (Hillersden). In April 1848 cattle and sheep from Sydney for H. G. Gouland were landed at the mouth of the Wairau River. He took up land between Spring Creek and Tua Marina, and the river crossing there became known as Gouland's Ferry. In 1863 the Gouland's Ferry Post Office was opened in Hathaway's Ferry Hotel.

Gouland, like many others, failed as a runholder and he was appointed Magistrate at Collingwood for the goldfields from 1857 to 1860. During his period as Magistrate Gouland was granted a grazing lease over the area now known as Gouland Downs (and now well known to trampers walking the Heaphy track).

From Collingwood he transferred to Lyttelton as Immigration Officer in 1861. He revisited England in 1865 and on returning bought sections in Waimea Road, in the city of Nelson.

Gouland died in Nelson in November, 1877.

Gouland Downs, Golden Downs and Gordon Downs, sometimes confused (especially by newcomers), have their origins briefly described in the "Wairau Field Trip" on p. 11 of this journal.