Bell Park, Emu Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bell Park, Emu Park |
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Gateway to Bell Park
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| Location | Hill Street, Emu Park, Shire of Livingstone, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1910s - 1940s |
| Official name: Bell Park, Botanic Gardens Reserve | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape, built) |
| Designated | 29 April 2003 |
| Reference no. | 602326 |
| Significant period | 1910s-1940s (fabric) 1892, 1899, 1908,1950 (historical) 1890s-ongoing (social) |
| Significant components | running track, stalls - market, trees/plantings, bridge - foot/pedestrian, pathway/walkway, box/es, rotunda |
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Bell Park is a special park in Emu Park, Australia. It's listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because of its history and importance. The park was mostly built between the 1910s and 1940s. It's also known as the Botanic Gardens Reserve. People have enjoyed this park for many years, making it a popular spot for both locals and visitors.
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Discovering Bell Park's Past
Bell Park was first set aside as a public area in 1892. Later, in 1899, it was officially named a "Reserve for Botanic Gardens and Public Reserve." This means it was protected land for plants and public use.
In the early 1910s, a group called the Emu Park Ladies Improvement League helped make the park better. They added pathways and seating, making it a popular place to visit. The park became even more popular in the 1940s when big company picnics were held there. Today, Bell Park is still a much-loved place for fun and relaxation.
How Emu Park Began
In 1867, people from Rockhampton wanted a beach town nearby. They asked for a town to be created on the coast. The spot chosen was on a cattle farm called Cawarral. By 1869, Emu Park was officially declared a town.
The Railway Connection
A big step for Emu Park was the railway line from Rockhampton, which opened in 1888. This made it much easier for people to travel to Emu Park for holidays. The train line was mostly for fun trips to the beach.
Sometimes, especially on picnic days, many trains would come to Emu Park. Each train could have up to 13 carriages! This shows how popular Emu Park was as a holiday spot.
In 1899, the railway line connecting Rockhampton to North Rockhampton was finished. This meant people from even further away, like Mount Morgan, could easily visit Emu Park. Soon, Emu Park had hotels, boarding houses, and holiday homes for visitors.
Protecting the Green Space
The Emu Park Progress Association wanted to protect a green area near Fisherman's Beach. They thought this area was very special. In 1889, they asked the government to make it a park.
Their request was first turned down, but then it was approved in 1892. The area was set aside for "Public Purposes." In 1899, it was officially named a "Reserve for Botanic Gardens and Public Purposes." This area later became Bell Park.
Originally, the Botanic Gardens Reserve was quite large, about 40 acres. It was meant to protect the natural beauty of the area, not to be a formal garden. It was seen as a beautiful, green spot for families and visitors right in the middle of Emu Park.
The Ladies' League and Bell Park's Name
Even though it was a reserve by 1892, the park wasn't easy to get to until the early 1910s. The Emu Park Ladies' Improvement League took care of the park. Mrs. Emily Jane Bell was the president of this group.
The League worked hard to create pathways and add seats and tables. Around 1920, timber shelters called rotundas were built in the park. In 1934, the Botanic Gardens was renamed Bell Park. This was to honor Mrs. Emily Jane Bell and her late husband, Mr. William Irving Bell, for their efforts in opening up and maintaining the park.
Picnic Fun at Bell Park
By the late 1940s, Bell Park was famous for its large company and community picnics. Companies like the Central Queensland Meat Export Company and the Railways Department held huge annual picnics there. People from Mount Morgan also loved coming to Emu Park because it was easy to reach by train.
The Mount Morgan mine employees had their own social club. They started holding annual picnics at Bell Park, often with 3,000 or more people attending! A small group would arrive days before to set up tents, prepare for races, and arrange food. On picnic day, the first train would leave Mount Morgan at dawn, and the last train would return by midnight.
There's a long, grassy area in Bell Park that is believed to be where races were held. A person in a nearby timber tower would call out the races.
In 1950, the park's official status changed to a "Park and Recreation Reserve." Today, Bell Park is still a very popular park in the Livingstone Shire.
What Bell Park Looks Like
Bell Park is about 11 hectares (about 27 acres) in size. It has large, open grassy areas. You can also see rows of tall hoop pines, especially in the southern part of the park.
You can enter Bell Park from Hill Street. There's low timber fencing that separates the car park from the rest of the park. Along the side facing the ocean, there are many mature pine trees. Other trees, like more pines and coconut palms, are found in different parts of the park.
Inside Bell Park, you'll find some interesting structures:
- A timber tower: This is thought to be a judges' box or starters' box for races.
- A large, open grassed area: This is said to be the running track.
- Two timber rotundas: These are round, open shelters. One is built with tree trunks, and the other uses cut timber.
- A timber stall: This is located near the timber tower.
- A large, mature ficus tree: This big tree is also near the stall.
Bell Park also has other useful facilities. These include toilets, play equipment for kids, footbridges, and concrete pathways for walking. There's even a brick stage with a concrete area for events.
Why Bell Park is Special
Bell Park was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2003 because it meets several important criteria.
It shows how Queensland's history has changed. Bell Park has been a popular place for fun and relaxation in Emu Park for a long time. Emu Park itself started as a holiday town for people from Rockhampton in the 1860s.
It has rare or uncommon features. The judges' box and the running track are quite rare and special.
It is beautiful to look at. With its old trees, planned green spaces, and structures like the timber rotundas and judges' box, Bell Park is very pretty. It also offers amazing views of the Pacific Ocean. It adds a lot to the look and feel of Emu Park.
It is important to the community. Bell Park has a very strong connection with the people of Emu Park and the surrounding areas. For over 100 years, the community has been involved with the park. From helping to protect the original green space in the 1890s, to the work of the Ladies Improvement League, and the big company picnics, the park has always been a central part of community life. People in the area really value Bell Park, and it's a favorite spot for visitors too.
