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If history is your interest, you'll find Bell is proud of its heritage.
Streets of Bell are named after early workers of the original historic Jimbour Station including Ensor, Dennis, Cassidy, Wallace, Broadbent, Campbell, Maxwell, Cody and Crawshay.
Sandstone street drains hand pitched during the years of the Depression can still be seen in Crawshay Street.
For train buffs, the Bell Heritage Railway Parkland Trainshed houses one of the first Queensland Rail diesel locomotives Number 1172, restored section cars and a vintage rail passenger carriage.
An historic Mural painted by local artist Neville Hopewell is a feature attraction on the western Wall of the Train Shed. Painted during the Centenary of Federation and funded through a Grant for these Celebrations
Warmga Sandstone crossing was one of the last traditional camping and meeting place for local Aborigines.
But, here we can help you discover Bell's history for yourself ....
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| Bell War Memorial |
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Rare Sandstone Street Drain | ||||||||
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The township of Bell, lies in the foothills of the Bunya Mountains just 39 kilometres north-east of Dalby. The township dates from 1906 but settlement began some thirty years earlier. The land on which the township took shape was once part of the large original holding of Jimbour Station. In 1848, Jimbour was a grazing lease of 200 000 acres owned by Thomas Bell. After local subdivisions, selectors came from other parts of the country and overseas. The township was named after Sir Joshua Peter Bell, son of Thomas Bell, by his son the Hon.Joshua Thomas Bell, Queensland Minister for Lands and Railway, whose drive and vision guided the establishment of "the Bell line"to service the growing needs of the old and new settlers along with the expanding network of railways throughout the state.
The Bell Line has the honour of being the most cheaply constructed line built by the Queensland Railways. As an experiment the line was built using the "packed earth" method whereby the sleepers were laid directly onto the ground in a shallow channel, which was subsequently filled with dirt removed to form the channel. Initially no ballast was used on the line.
Cream: It was not uncommon during the early decades of the last century for hundreds of cream cans to be sent from Bell twice a week from the numerous family dairy farms of the fertile district.
Timber: In the early part of last century timber from the Bunya Mountains was transported with large amounts being brought into Bell, Warmga and Kaimkillenbun by horse and bullock wagon teams.
Grain: The growing and transport of grain played an important part in early development of the town and district. Bagged wheat was brought to the railhead where it was loaded direct into open wagons or stacked in a large open wheat shed at the northern end of the yard. In 1970 four large concrete silos were constructed to handle the bulk storage of summer and winter grain crops with another two added some years later.
Livestock: Bell was also the railhead for the loading of livestock from the region to various meatworks. Until the 1960's there were two saleyards in Bell which resulted in the transport of thousands of head of cattle, with large numbers of pigs being railed to the Darling Downs Bacon Factory in Toowoomba.
By 1907 the Bell township contained four residences, one hotel, one private dwelling and two government buildings.
A store was under construction in Dennis Street and was built by Nana Singh, an Indian hawker who had previously peddled his wares from a wagonette. This site was expanded over time by subsequent owners to become a large emporium type shop that catered to the wide needs of farm and town residents. The store burnt to the ground in 1971 and a private residence occupies the site now.
The first Bell School located on several acres of land south of the township across the railway in the now McPhee Street was established in 1907 following earnest petitioning of education authorities to meet the growing need of the new town and settlers moving in. A workshop and residence are presently on this site.
In 1917 the old Hall from Maida Hill was shifted to Bell. During several renovations over time all but part of the supper room was pulled down, leaving now part of the stage area only of the original building. The Bell Memorial Public Hall in Wallace Street has grown to become a versatile facility meeting the changing needs of the community since establishment.
A cafe was built in 1934 in the main street Dennis Street by the Lambley family, first occupied by a Greek family, followed by J. Gough, K.Budden, H.Winterbottom and A.Rayner. A large black stove still remains out the back with a local artist presently owning the shop, utilising it as a studio.
A "Woodcraft Workshop" was operated from a Butcher Shop in Dennis Street originally built in 1934. The Butchery operated until 1975 when new Health Regulation were enforced and the then butcher, Mr. George Gordon established a new slaughterhouse and retail outlet on the abattoir site, closing the original shop. Mr Brian Cullin purchased the building to establish "The Indestructable Workshop", previously known as "Gordon's Cash Butchery" which was then utilised by Brian Tuxworth, a woodworker and clockmaker. A new Business "Bell Hair Designs" opened in September is now operating from these premises.
The National Bank, originally transported in two parts by train from Jondaryan in 1918, has been converted to a private residence. Bell's present butcher has established a modern retail butchery facing the Bunya Highway on land that is part of the National Bank original allotment.
Post Office services originally operated out of the Railway Station with the first Postmaster being Jim Lynam. The first Post Office-cum-residence building was built in Wallace Street along from the Stone Store of Hugh Downes, (site of the present Bell Store and Rural Transaction Centre).
In 1922 the official Postal Status was raised and a new building was contracted to be built by Dudley Sorley on the corner of Dennis and Ensor Street (The Bunya Highway) The postal services developed to include several district Mail Services, a Telephone Exchange and Town Mail Delivery becoming a major employer of the town, with the last Post Master being the long serving Eddie Caldwell.
Present modern postal facilities are available operating from the Bell Store.
CWA Shack in Dennis Street. QCWA Bell Branch was formed in 1923 originally meting in the Bell Memorial Hall until their hall was built across the road in Wallace Street. The first President was Mrs J. Lang, the Secretary was Mrs Price, and the Treasurer was Mrs H. Downes Snr.
In 1927 the Bell Countrywomens consisted of 64 members, today due to low numbers the small group of members have gone into recess. The CWA Hall (shack) moved from Wallace to Dennis Street was sold and is now a private residence.
A Garage was operated from the corner of Denis and Maxwell Street, built just after World War 2 by two local farmers Les Price and a Mr Johnson, then Percy Caldwell a local Seed Merchant purchased it to become a Grain Shed as graingrowing was expanding rapidly.
Les Price went on to become the Chairman of the Australian Wheat Board and was knighted by the Queen for his services to the Australian Grain Industry.
Bell Bakery, this was the second bakery in Bell and has the original brick oven on site, although electric ovens were in use until it closed on 26th of April,1996.The Bakery and the adjoining Sunshine Machinery premises were built in 1936 for Mr D. McLean, with the bakehouse then operated by Mr Tom Martin. The front section of the bakery was burnt down, along with the adjoining sunshine corner shop, necessitating both to be rebuilt.
The plant holders on the footpath are called "doughboys" and were part of the original Bakery.
" Sunshine Corner" as it became known for a time was the meeting place for local business men. It was not uncommon to see the Post Master, the Baker, the Bank Manager often joined by the Butcher or whoever else was in town catching up on " the News".
This is the present site of the Bell Information and Cottage Craft Centre where local volunteers provide information to the increasing tourist traffic along the Bunya Highway enroute to and from the Sunshine and North Coast, the Bunya Mountains and the local area boutique wineries.
Sheep and Cattle yards.
Such was the development of farming in the 1900's, following the establishment of the railway, that two sets of selling yards with railway trucking yards were needed to move the livestock of the surrounding districts. Knox yards have been demolished on Challecombe Street and the McPhee- AML&F yards on Cedarvale Road are now the site of the Bunya View Caravan Park.
Closer settlement of the Bell area began in the 1860s. Listed below are those families who arrived in the 1860s and the 1870s. Many of their descendants still live in the area with some being 7th generation family members
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v Syms v Burtonv McPheev Hawkesv Bellingham |
v McClellandv Bradleyv Sweeneyv Lanev Ensor |
v Walkerv Monaghanv Cassidyv Cody |
v Beirnev Pitmanv Rushv Edwards |
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Historical Buildings & Significant Places
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The Stone House |
Many of the earliest buildings in Bell were of stone, such as the bakery in Dennis Street, built in 1912. Several businesses have operated out of these premises including a Commission Agent and two craft shops, presently it is unoccupied.
A stone shop on the corner of Ensor and Wallace streets was built by Hugh Downes, operating for decades as a variety of businesses.Following demolition the Highway Cafe was established. Significient upgrades have taken place with The Bell Store/Rural Transaction Centre operating and providing a wide range of services for the community presently from this site.
In 1913, the Stone House, corner of Ensor and Crawshay streets was built for Mr. and Mrs.R. Norris as a wedding gift to his daughter from Henry Ensor.
The sandstone came from a quarry at the rear of the present Anglican church.
The name of the house is "Dolce Domun" Latin for 'sweet home".
All these stone buildings were the work of the Johnstons – Scottish stone masons who arrived in the district around 1908
Today the Stone House has been restored, capturing its original charm.
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Churches |
Churches date back to the early days of Bell’s settlement:
1908 – The Presbyterian Church in Cassidy Street
1910 – The Church of England in Ensor Street
1912 – Roman Catholic Church in Cassidy Street
Significant Places
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Bell Historic Railway Station, the oldest building in Bell, was basically transported to Bell by Rail in 1906 as a Station Masters Office and approval to extend to include a Ladies Waiting Room was by Commissioners Minute of 30.8.1911 |
The station closed in 1984 and was restored with a Centenary of Federation Grant in 2001 by the Bell and District Progress Association.
The fence posts and gates were once part of the original boundary fence of the Railway and Trucking yards.
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The original Police Station was situated in Maxwell Street, presently a residence. |
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The present Police Station corner of Wallace and Challecombe Streets was built in 1918 with the Cell Block and original stables out the back. |
As there was no police presence in Bell until 1911, police rode from Dalby once a month.
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Town Water Supply |
The bore sunk in Ensor Park was the first effort to obtain water for the town. Completed in 1909, it was 1000 feet deep. The water was brackish, so rain water was residents only supply until a weir was built on Cattle Creek in 1959, followed by two dams on Koondai-i Creek in 1966 and 1982.
Presently these sources are empty and the town is totally supplied by treated bore water from a Wambo Shire Town bore, commissioned in 2001 on the Bell Racecourse and Showground Recreation Reserve, and private tank water, following a decade and a half of drastically reduced rainfall
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"My Joint" - originally a Bootmakers Shop was built by Mr Albert (Jack) Hayward around 1930 along with his house beside. Making individual boots for customers Mr Hayward closed temporarily when he went to war and was taken prisoner on Crete. On returning the Bootmaker continued his trade until the 1970's when ready made boots and shoes became popular. |
The Bell Veterinary Services, service a wide area from this site today.
Extract from historic Daily Mail (Brisbane) 29-4-2006
A New Railway DALBY to CATTLE CREEK, extension to BELL opened. BELL , the town ship in embryo, which forms the terminus of the Dalby-Cattle Creek Railway, was en fete today, the occasion being the official opening of the Line by the Minister for lands. Mr Bell, the Minister, who left Brisbane by special train last night, accompanied by a large party of ladies and gentlemen, arrived at Bell shortly after 11 o'clock today. A large number of settlers gave the visitors a most enthusiastic reception.
After the usual introductions the visitors were escorted to the top of Bald Hills, from which eminence magnificent views are obtainable.
At noon to-day a Government sale of town and suburban allotments was held, the hammer being wielded by the Dalby Land Agent. The town allotments ranged in size from a quarter to half-an-acre, whilst the suburban lots varied from three to five acres. Altogether 77 lots were sold for an aggregate of 794 pounds 5 shillings. In almost every instance the upset price was exceeded. The highest price paid for a town allotment was 20 pounds.
At 2 o'clock the Minister for Lands and other visitors were entertained at luncheon by a reception committee consisting of Messrs H Ensor, F Cassidy, JM Handley, D McDonald and WJ McClelland all old and well known settlers of the Maida Hill district.
Mr Bell's Speech ( Extract)
Mr Bell, who was enthusiastically received, said that in honouring the toast of the Ministry the people were really only paying tribute to their great and grand constitution. (hear, hear)
Continuing, he referred to the fact that the district and station (railway) had been named after his father.
In his opinion there was not a fairer spot on the Darling Downs called after any of the pioneers than that called after his father. (hear, Hear and applause)
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When the line opened, trains ran from Toowoomba as there was no depot in Dalby until the other branch lines to Jandowae and Tara were built. Trains ran every day except Sunday and the train crew stayed overnight in Bell. The original plan was to link the railway line between the Darling Downs & the South Burnett. Unfortunately money ran out when the State Government changed and the line ended at Bell. The line officially opened in 1906 with trains carrying both passengers and goods. |
Sadly, in November 1993 the railway was 'mothballed', but the Historic Railway Station in Dennis Street stands today as a memorial. |
For further information click here
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Bell claims links with Australian legends. Stories are told of inhabitants who have some very well known relations - such as Sister Elizabeth Kenny and Steele Rudd. Local identity, Mrs Violet Bradley was Steele Rudd's daughter and the Farquaharson family was closely linked to Sister Elizabeth Kenny. The McClelland & Downes families have a police link in the hunt for the Kelly gang. The early history of New South Wales, Queensland, the Darling Downs and Wambo Shire and its pioneers through links to Jimbour Station demand Legendary status future Links.
(c) 2002 - 2006 Bell and District Progress Association Inc.
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