Bell, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bell Queensland
Bell, seen from the air in 2010
Bell Location in Queensland
Population	421 (2021 census)
• Density	3.279/km2 (8.49/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4408
Area	128.4 km2 (49.6 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	40.0 km (25 mi) NE of Dalby 109 km (68 mi) NW of Toowoomba 236 km (147 mi) WNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Western Downs Region
State electorate(s)	Callide
Federal Division(s)	Maranoa
Localities around Bell: Cooranga Cooranga Bunya Mountains Jimbour East Bell Bunya Mountains Kaimkillenbun Kaimkillenbun Moola

Bell is a small country town in the Western Downs Region of Queensland, Australia. It is also a locality, which is like a local area. In 2021, about 421 people lived in Bell.

Bell is located at the western edge of the Bunya Mountains. It is about 39 kilometers (24 miles) north of Dalby.

What is Bell Like?

Bell is found along the Bunya Highway. It sits between the rich farming areas of the Darling Downs and the South Burnett. The land here has rolling hills that look like a patterned quilt from above.

The main jobs in this area are farming. People raise beef cattle, grow grain, and farm sheep and pigs.

There are a few smaller areas within Bell:

• Koondai-I
• Spring Flat
• Warmga
• Wonga

A hill called Summer Hill rises to 464 meters (1,522 feet) above sea level nearby.

Bell's History

Sketch of Sir Joshua Peter Bell, 1881

The land around Bell was originally home to the Jarowair Aboriginal people. Their language area covered parts of the Toowoomba region. The name Koondai-I is thought to be an Indigenous name for this area.

The name Wonga might come from a windmill called the Wonga windmill.

Long ago, the area was known as Cattle Creek. It was part of a very large property called Jimbour Station. In the 1870s, the land was opened up for more people to settle there. Angus and Christina McPhee from Scotland were among the first European families to move closest to where Bell is now.

Other families also settled in the Cattle Creek area. Because of this, a school was started in 1878 at Maida Hill for their children. People started using "Bell" as a town name around 1905, but they still sometimes called the area Cattle Creek.

The Railway Comes to Bell

In May 1906, the Bell Branch railway line opened. This line connected Bell to the main Western railway line at Dalby. There were a few railway stations within Bell, but they are not used anymore.

When the railway opened, a large piece of land (about 1,600 acres) was set aside for the new town. This land was divided into smaller blocks for people to buy. The first land sales happened in May 1906. The town was named after Sir Joshua Peter Bell, who owned Jimbour Station at that time.

Bell Provisional School opened on November 4, 1907. It became Bell State School in 1909. The school celebrated its 100th birthday in 2007. The Bell Memorial Public Hall also opened in 1917. The railway line served the town until 1994. Bell Library opened more recently, in 2013.

Education in Bell

Aerial photo of Bell State School, 2024

Bell State School is a government school for students from Prep (the first year of school) up to Year 10. It is located at 90 Dennis Street. In 2018, the school had 88 students.

For students who want to continue their education up to Year 12, the closest government high school is Dalby State High School in Dalby.

Things to Do in Bell

The Bell Bunya Community Centre is at 71 Maxwell Street. It has the Bell Library, which is part of the Western Downs Libraries network.

The Bell Memorial Public Hall is a place where many community events happen. It is located at 69 Wallace Street.

You can get fuel at the Bell Store. The 'Bellvue' pub is a popular spot for people to meet up. Country dances and balls are often held at the Memorial Hall throughout the year. There is also a cafe in the old Freemasons Hall.

Other facilities in Bell include a caravan park for visitors, a swimming pool, tennis courts, a lawn bowls club, and a 9-hole golf course. There is also a horse racing track and a police station.

Bell's Events and Attractions

Bell is well-known for its traditional country arts and crafts. It also hosts many rural activities. These include horse race meetings, the local agricultural show, rodeo events, and campdraft competitions.

The local agricultural show happens every year on the first weekend in March. In 2008, it celebrated its 50th year! The show features exciting events like wood chopping and displays of local farm animals, including milking goats. There are also working cattle dog 'trials', where dogs show off their skills.

The Bell Races are a very popular local event. They are held every year on the first Saturday in January.

Places to Visit

Barbed wire crucifix, in the Biblical Garden

The Railway Heritage Parkland is built where the old railway station used to be. You can see an old diesel train and a vintage passenger carriage there. There is also a historical mural painted on a shed wall. Some of Bell's first buildings were made from local sandstone, like a stone house built in 1913.

The Roman Catholic Church has a beautiful mural painted by local artists. It shows a history of faith.

The Bluebelles Art Gallery is located at the Bell Bunya Community Centre. It displays artworks by local artists.