Queens Gardens is an example of a classical Victorian ornamental park.
The gardens are part of a designated Historic Places Trust precinct.

Installed ‘sailing’ in the Queens Garden pond, ‘Sentinel’ is a steel sculpture that was inspired by the base of the Nikau palm frond. It refers to the waka and ships that brought waves of people to Aotearoa New Zealand. Created in 1998 by Dominique de Borrekens and Grant Scott, this sculpture honours the Nelson settlers who planted the Queens gardens over 100 years ago.

The sculpture was damaged during a storm in 2008, then underwent repairs before being reinstalled in May 2009.

See also:

• Queens Gardens Walk (PDF: Nelson City Council Te Kaunihera o Whakatū website)

• Nelson's Queens Gardens (The Prow)

• Public art of Nelson (The Prow)

• Queens Gardens (Nelson 360° website)

• Josh Reich, 'Sentinel back on guard in gardens' (The Nelson Mail: Stuff, 21 May 2009)