Bells Bridge is a rural locality in the Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the 2021 census, Bells Bridge had a population of 226 people.[1]
| Bells Bridge Queensland | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  Bells Bridge | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 26°07′10″S 152°32′10″E / 26.1194°S 152.5361°E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 226 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 4.313/km2 (11.17/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4570 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 52.4 km2 (20.2 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Gympie Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Gympie | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Wide Bay | ||||||||||||||
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Geography
editThe Bruce Highway passes through the locality from the east to the north-east, where it has a junction with the Wide Bay Highway which passes through the location to the north-west.[3]
The Mary River flows through the locality from south-east to north-east, eventually flowing into the Great Sandy Strait.[3]
Most of the locality is the Brooyar State Forest, except for the eastern and north-eastern parts which are farmland supporting cropping and grazing.[3]
History
editThe locality presumably takes its name from the Bell's Bridge built at O'Leary's Crossing over the Mary River, which was opened by the Minister for Lands, Joshua Thomas Bell, on Thursday 28 May 1908. The bridge was funded by the Widgee and Kilkivan Shire Councils, the Queensland Government and other public donations. It was named after Bell for the support he had given them in obtaining the funding for the bridge.[4]
Bell's Bridge State School opened on 8 June 1926. It closed on 11 November 1932.[5]
Bells Bridge was a locality in the Shire of Cooloola prior to the 2008 amalgamation into the Gympie Region.[2]
Demographics
editIn the 2016 census, Bells Bridge had a population of 197 people.[6]
In the 2021 census, Bells Bridge had a population of 226 people.[1]
Education
editThere are no schools in Bells Bridge. The nearest government primary schools are Chatsworth State School in neighbouring Chatsworth to the east and Widgee State School in neighbouring Widgee to the south-west. The nearest government secondary school is James Nash State High School in Gympie to the south-east.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Bells Bridge (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Bells Bridge – locality in Gympie Region (entry 46305)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ a b c "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
- ^ "O'Leary's Crossing". Gympie Times And Mary River Mining Gazette. Vol. XL, no. 5219. Queensland, Australia. 30 May 1908. p. 3. Retrieved 26 July 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Bells Bridge (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
Further reading
edit- Celebrating 100 years of education at Chatsworth : Chatsworth School centenary : incorporating Bell’s Bridge, Carmyle, Corella, Curra and Tamaree. Chatsworth State School. 2000. — via State Library of Queensland
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