Doesn’t the name, Bell, evoke a sense of history? Bell in New South Wales is a small village. It sits high in the Blue Mountains. We’re about 125 kilometers west of Sydney. Archibald Bell Jr. first mapped this route. He found a way over the Blue Mountains via Richmond. This happened in 1823.
Bell owes its existence to Archibald Bell Jr. Indigenous guides Emery and Cogy helped Bell. They already knew the route well. Bell’s Line of Road was later built. It followed this very path.
Imagine Bell as more than just a dot on the map. It is a junction. Here, Bells Line of Road meets Chifley Road. The Darling Causeway also converges here. This connects to Mount Victoria.
The Bell railway station is also a part of the story. It was built in 1875. It served Mount Wilson village. Mount Wilson is about 14 kilometers from Bell. The station was originally named Mount Wilson railway station. In 1889 the name changed to Bell. The railway sits 1,060 meters above sea level.
Bell has a cool mountain climate. Snow often falls here. July sees average minimum temperatures of 2.3 degrees Celsius. The average maximum is 9.3 degrees Celsius. Summers are cooler than Sydney. January’s average maximum is 23.7 degrees Celsius. Hot westerly winds can push temperatures higher. They can reach 34 to 37 degrees Celsius.
Bell is surrounded by native bush. This bushland is part of the Blue Mountains National Park. The Wollangambe River dominates this part of the park. It starts north of Bell. It flows into the Colo River. This area is rugged. It has stony terrain. Few tracks exist here. A walking trail from Bell leads to the Wollangambe River. Experienced bushwalkers use it. They venture into the Wollangambe Wilderness.
Did you know Bell’s Line of Road is an alternative to the Great Western Highway? It is the only alternative route. Because of this, Bell hosts an RTA Heavy Vehicle Checking Station. This ensures safety for all who travel through here.
Bell is not just a place. It’s a reminder of exploration. It is a testament to the beauty of the Blue Mountains. The Dharug First Nations people occupied the area for an estimated 40,000 years before Europeans arrived. Matthew Everingham, a convict, may have passed through the area in 1795. In 1832 William Romaine Govett surveyed the area. Today, Bell remains largely unchanged since the 1880s.
So next time you pass through Bell take a moment. Remember its history. Appreciate its natural beauty.