Early history of Bellbrook

Bellbrook was settled by timber cutters and graziers in the mid-1830s. For most of that century, there was active antagonism between local Aboriginal people (Thunghutti) and the settlers. Consequently, the settlement was slow to develop and remained small in scale.

Robert McKenzie, a sheep grazier, is recorded in 1837 as being the first squatter. By 1865, 25 squatting licences had been issued, covering 170,000 hectares of Thunghutti land.

The name 'Bellbrook' was adopted as the official title for the first post office in 1882 at the suggestion of James Chapman Toose, who established the office at the junction of Nulla Nulla Creek and the Macleay River. Before this, the office was a telegraph station.

It is believed that Caroline McMaugh, the wife of early settler John McMaugh, named the village. At the time, bellbirds were known to inhabit the dense scrub along Nulla Nulla Creek.

In 1885, the Aboriginal inhabitants were placed on 36.4 hectares of Aboriginal Protection Land near Bellbrook.

In 1892, the village was laid out and gazetted as Bellbrook. This village is classified by the National Trust as a heritage village.

The Macleay Valley Historical Society publishes information on self-guided historical walks in the region, including a walk at Bellbrook. See Walks in History - Bellbrook(PDF, 116KB)