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Interesting connections and partnerships between the Bell, Armstrong, Sutherland, Calvert and Stewart families become more evident when their residences and properties are studied.

Warrambine, Shelford (Warrambeen)

Warrambeen in 1902

 

 

The original lease name was Warrambine, but the name changed to Warrambeen. 

 

 Geelong area. It was originally leased by John Bell in 1854. It was 4 miles NW of Shelford. Neighbouring properties were Golf Hill, Watch Hill and Mt. Mercer. See Map. Previous lessees were Prentice 1837, Derwent Co.1841, Major Mercer 1842, John Thomson and William Thomson 1844, Alex Cunningham 1852. The lease was cancelled in August 1864.

Two of Alexander and Betsy Armstrong's children were born here - William Armstrong in 1864 d.1865, and George Armstrong in.1868.

Two of the children of Lewis and Mary Ann Bell (nee Armstrong) were born here- George Bell 1882, and Margaretta Jean Bell (Jean) in 1891.

Alexander Armstrong originally managed the property for John Bell, then purchased it and Watch Hill. He lived there until his death in 1890. 

Visit Warrambeen today.
Old Meat House, Warrambine (J.T. Collins Collection, La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria)Warrambine Stables ( J.T. Collins Collection, La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria)Woolshed Sheep Entrance ( J.T. Collins Collection, La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria)Shearers' Quarters ( J.T. Collins Collection, La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria)

 

 

 

Woolshed ( J.T. Collins Collection, La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria)View images at http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/catalogues/index.html
Search for "Warrambine" in Pictures Catalogue.
Irrewarra Geelong area. John Bell had a joint lease of Irrewarra with John Calvert in 1842.  See Map.
The Leigh

The former Shire of Leigh includes the following places: Corindhap, Dereel, Doroq, Hesse, Inverleigh, Mount Mercer, Shelford, Teesdale, Warrambeen, Werneth and Wingeel. Many of these recur throughout the Bell and Armstrong families' histories.

Nine of the children of Alexander and Betsy Armstrong were born at "The Leigh" 1861-1880. The other two children were born at Warrambeen.

Alexander Armstrong Stewart, son of Jean Armstrong and Rev. Alex. Stewart, was born there in 1885.

Gladys Bell, daughter of John Bell and Anne Russell was born at The Leigh in 1889.

"The Leigh" of the 1860's was the area around Shelford.

The "Leigh Road" later became known as Bannockburn.

Morongo, Bell Post Hill

Bell Post Hill, (courtesy LaTrobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria)
Click on picture for large view

 Ballarat Road, Geelong. Home of John Calvert 1811-1869 - a neighbour to John Bell at Bell Park  Mrs. John Bell (see below) is recorded as living her in 1888.

LaTrobe Library Pictures Catalogue

Visit Morongo today.

Bell Park

Bell Park, home of John Bell (courtesy LaTrobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria)
Click on picture for large view

 Geelong area. Home of "Big John" Bell 1821-1867      Bell Park, home of John Bell (J.T. Collins Collection, La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria)

More information here

State Library of Victoria Pictures Catalogue

Visit Bell Park today

 
Deer Park  Mt. Derrimut

Mt. Derrimut, Deer Park (courtesy LaTrobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria)

At Deer Park (courtesy LaTrobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria)

Sandy Howatson with Alma Joan, Mary, violet, James and Helen Bell at Mt. Derrimut

 West of Melbourne, North of Laverton, was the home of the Howatson family. The photo of Lewis Bell (b.1853) was taken here. His daughter, Mary Calvert Bell was born here on 02.05.1898. 

James Howatson purchased the property from Septimus and Richard Morton, who established it as a pedigree Shorthorn cattle property from 1850 to 1875. James Howatson built the present homestead, laid out the garden and planted the trees on the north eastern slopes of the hill. It remained a pastoral property until sold by the trustees of the Howatson Estate to Beresford Cole in 1944.Lewis Bell at Mt. Derrimut Mt. Derrimut

Sandy Howatson at Mt. DerrimutMore information about the Howatson family                         

Pictures of Woolbrook, Teesdale, held at National Library Archives

 

 

Pictures of Deer Park now    The University of Melbourne now uses the property as part of its Faculty of Agriculture. It is known as the  Mount Derrimut Field Station.

                                  
Watch Hill / Pollock's Station Geelong area. Leased at various times by John Bell and John Calvert between 1842 - 1856. Purchased by Alexander Armstrong from John Bell.   See Map.
Burnside

Near the Leigh Road, Geelong.  The Grant and Polwarth Coursing Club met at the Burnside estate. A newspaper cutting from 1878, states that Lewis Bell was a young newcomer, assisting his uncle, James Bell of Woolbrook, with the dogs.  

Visit the Burnside Estate today
Woolbrook, Teesdale

Geelong area - Teesdale. The home of James Bell, editor "Geelong Advertiser", brother of John Bell of Bell Park and Robert Lewis Bell of Mt. Mercer, uncle of Lewis Bell(b.1853) of Booligal.  

Betsy Sutherland / Thompson married Alexander Armstrong at Woolbrook in 1860.
 

View images at http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/jcollins/inter/38904.shtml
 

( J.T. Collins Collection, La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria) ( J.T. Collins Collection, La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria) ( J.T. Collins Collection, La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria) ( J.T. Collins Collection, La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria) ( J.T. Collins Collection, La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria)
Barwon Park, Winchelsea

Barwon Park, Winchelsea

A home built by Thomas Austin in 1869, believed to be the property where some of the first rabbits were introduced to Australia. The Duke of Edinburgh visited the property in 1868, and the rabbits provided a plentiful day's sport. There is no relationship to the family here, however the close proximity of Barwon Park to many other Geelong properties is of interest.

See Map.  

Visit Barwon Park today
Sleatbank, Hamilton, Victoria  Grazing property owned by Alexander Armstrong, nephew of Mary Ann Bell and Jean Stewart. He retired to Toorak and the property was managed by Bob Bell until its sale in the 1970's.  See Map.
Killearnan, Old Killearnan and Burnswark were three Melbourne homes belonging to either the Armstrongs or Lewis Bell's family. Certainly, letters written by Betsy Armstrong come from the three houses; however one (possibly Burnswark) was purchased to enable Mary Ann Bell and the Bell children to live in Melbourne to attend school at Scotch College or Presbyterian Ladies College. The older children originally boarded in Melbourne, but this became too expensive as more of their children reached school age.

Killearnan, Torresdale Road, Toorak. 

 

Origins of the Name:  It was possibly named after the town, Killearnan, Rosshire, north of Inverness. 

 

 

 

 Two children (the 13th and 15th children) of Lewis and Mary Ann Bell were born here - Violet Lilias Bell (Va) on 10.05.1900, and Helen Howatson Sutherland Bell (Duckie) on 27.01.1904. 

In Annie Bell's WW1 diary, many letters from the family, including from Granny Armstrong and Mrs. Howatson were written from this address.

Whether the connection to the name Killearnan is an Armstrong, Sutherland or a Stewart one, is uncertain at present. An Armstrong or Sutherland connection is the assumption, however many Stewarts hail from these parts. Mary Ann Bell was an Armstrong; both her parents came the area; but her sister Jean Armstrong married a different Rev. Alexander Stewart from the above-mentioned Stewart.

Novel: The Gunn of Killearnan by Dorice Nelson

Well-known and popular ministers of the Church from the 1820's to 1850's lived in Rosshire. 

  • John Kennedy (1819-1884), a Highland divine, was the fourth son of John Kennedy, minister of Killearnan. 
  • A Rev. Alexander Stewart, (1794-1847) preached in the Rosshire area. He was a strong advocate of the Free Church of Scotland.
Old Killearnan, Brighton

Old Killearnan 1919

 Melbourne home of Betsy Armstrong. The house had spires and a large ornate fountain, and stone lionsKilleanan statues statuary. The picture at left, shows Annie Bell sitting on the fountain edge in 1919, after her return from WW1.
According to The Argus 7 December 1929, a property of 11 acres 3 roods was auctioned - it surrounded the "fine old residence of Killearnan", and had frontages to Thomas and Huntley Streets and Whitmuir Road, Bentleigh. It also states that "the land could be subdivided into seventy desirable villa sites."

Burnswark, 

9 Canterbury Road, Toorak, MelbourneJim Bell at Burnswark

 . The house was named after Burnswark, the Iron Age hillfort (6th century BC) situated close to the Dumfries properties of the Bell families.  It was possibly a Melbourne home of Betsy Armstrong (b.1837) mother of MaryAnn Bell née Armstrong(b1861). It is uncertain when Mrs. Armstrong moved to Melbourne from Leigh, where 7 of her 9 children were born. She was still living at Burnswark after WW1. The house is not standing today.Mary, Violet and Helen Bell at Burnswark

It is presumed to be the house purchased so the Bell children could attend schools in Melbourne without boarding.

 

Click here for more information and pictures about the Melbourne homes.
   

Last updated 20 October 2008

 Last updated 1 June 2008