Swan Bells facts for kids

Perth Bell Tower at night

The Swan Bells are a special group of 18 bells found in a tall, modern bell tower in Perth, Western Australia. This tower is about 82.5 meters (270 feet) high. People often call it The Bell Tower or the Swan Bell Tower.

These bells get their name from the Swan River, which the tower overlooks. They form a set of 16 bells for change ringing, plus two extra musical notes. This makes them the second largest set of change ringing bells in the world. Only Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin has more, with 19 bells.

Twelve of these bells are very old and come from the St Martin-in-the-Fields church in London, England. The other six bells were made more recently by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. The old London bells were given to Western Australia in 1988. This was part of Australia's 200th birthday celebrations. The newer bells were made from metals mined in Western Australia.

What are Change Ringing Bells?

Change ringing is a special way of ringing bells. It involves ringing a set of bells in a changing pattern. It's not like playing a tune. Instead, bell ringers follow a set of mathematical patterns. Each bell rings once in a specific order. This creates a complex and beautiful sound. It takes a lot of skill and practice to do it well.

History of the Old London Bells

The 12 old bells from St Martin-in-the-Fields have a very long history. They can be traced back to before the 1300s. Queen Elizabeth I had them recast in the 1500s. They were recast again between 1725 and 1770 by the Rudhall family, who were famous bell makers.

Instead of being recast again in the late 1800s, these bells were fixed and tuned. This happened at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London. They were then given to Western Australia. This idea came from a local bell ringer and businessman named Laith Reynolds. These bells are very special because they are one of the few sets of "royal bells." They are also the only set known to have left England. These bells even rang when the famous explorer James Cook started his journey to Australia.

About the Bell Tower Building

The Bell Tower was designed by local architects Hames Sharley. The 18 bells together weigh about nine tonnes (9,000 kilograms). When they ring, they create strong forces on the tower. To make sure the tower was strong enough, the six-story bell area was built with very strong concrete. The engineering firm Arup designed this part of the tower.

The tower has special soundproof walls and doors. These can make the sound quieter or direct it towards the city or the river. The top part of the tower is made of glass and looks like a spire. It has spokes that spread out from the center. The main columns of the spire are made of solid steel. The concrete bell area is covered in 30-meter (98-foot) high copper "sails" and glass.

What's Around the Tower?

The area around the tower is called Barrack Square. It has been updated and now includes calm reflection pools. There are also cafes, restaurants, shops, and paths for walking and cycling.

There used to be a path around the tower made of ceramic tiles. Each tile had the names of students from schools across Western Australia from 1999. These tiles were moved in 2014 for the Elizabeth Quay project. They have since been put back in a new artwork near the tower.

In 2018, a very large bell weighing 6.5 tonnes was made. This was to remember 100 years since the end of World War One. This bell is called the "Great ANZAC Bell." Unlike the other bells, it swings using an electronic motor.

Since 2013, the area around Barrack Street Jetty has been redeveloped. This included removing part of the reflection pool and adding a boardwalk in front of the Bell Tower. This work is part of a bigger project to improve the waterfront, including the Elizabeth Quay development.

Images for kids

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  The tower as seen from Barrack Street at dusk

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  Fountains in front of Swan Bells

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  Sunset from Supreme Court Gardens

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  The Swan Bells