Bell, Queensland

Bell is a rural town and locality in the Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. It is in the western foothills of the Bunya Mountains, 39km north of Dalby. At the 2011 census, Bell had a population of 544.GeographyBell is on the Bunya Highway and lies between the agricultural areas of the Darling Downs and the South Burnett with rolling hills of quilt-like patterned farmland. The area's main industry is farming of beef cattle, grain, sheep and pigs.HistoryOriginally the area around Bell was part of a large land holding called Jimbour Station. In the 1870s the area was opened up for closer settlement and Angus & Christina McPhee from Scotland became the first settlers nearest to what would become the village of Bell. Over time other families - including Bellingham, Bradley, Edwards, Ensor, Rush and Walker - settled in the vicinity of Cattle Creek and in 1878 a school was established at Maida Hill to cater for these families. In April 1906 the Bell Branch railway line was opened linking to the main line at Dalby. The first land sales in Bell were in May 1906. The village was named after Sir Joshua Peter Bell who, at that time, was owner of Jimbour Station. The railway continued to operated until 1994.