Erich Coldevin (1803-1847) from Dønnes in Helgeland purchased Melbu in 1832. The old buildings were demolished, and a new courtyard was established, with the imposing main building as the centerpiece. The grandson-in-law, Christian Frederiksen, transformed Melbu from a trading place to an industrial site around 1900. He built the veranda facing the garden (1900) and a new entrance facing the courtyard (1912). When Christian died in 1929, the property was inherited by his son, Gunnar Frederiksen. He did not live in the main building but rented it out. From 1937-1957, Nordland county operated the farm as an agricultural school, interrupted by the German occupation during World War II. The agricultural school used the main building for housing and school premises. The manager of Nora margarine factory also lived here from 1949 to 1957, and the factory had its boardroom in the house until 1970, otherwise, the house was rented out as apartments. In the early 1970s, the main building was in disrepair, but local mobilization secured funds for restoration. In 1976, the buildings were transferred to Vesterålsmuseet, which eventually became a department of Museum Nord.