Bells History
Acknowledgement in Wadawurrung mother tongue
Nyatne bengadak baa bengordigek Kilik munya Wadawurrung maewan baa guli bagurrk
Murrup Maewan bengordinganak Wadawurrung dja-yu
Baa Koomerringiny beek ngubitj yaluk baa warri baa narroo
Nyatne bengadak karringalabil murroop Bunjil karringalabil Wadawurrung dja
Nyatne bengadak mundigurrk baa wurring-wurring mirriyu Kilinyn baa munyaKuling wada-ngal
Written by Corrina Eccles - Wadawurrung woman
We Acknowledge and Thank the Wadawurrung Ancestors and people
Our connection to Wadawurrung Country and continuing care of land waters, rivers and sea
We thank creator spirit Bunjil for creation of Wadawurrung country
We Thank Elders men and women past, today and future
Let us walk together
Bells Beach is in Wadawurrung country. Wadawurrung country covers over 10,000 square kilometres and includes coastal areas between Aireys Inlet and Werribee and extends inland to cover the towns of Geelong and Ballarat and the surrounding districts. The coastal areas provided Wadawurrung with resources such as shellfish, ochre and Yam Daisy tubers.
Learn more about the Wadawurrung and Bells Beach in this short video featuring Corrina Eccles (and Anthony Hume playing didgeridoo), or at the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation https://www.wadawurrung.org.au/ .
Permanent European settlement in Wadawurrung country started in the 1830s and Bells Beach and the surrounding land became part of the Mount Pleasant pastoral run.
The reserve is named after the family of John Calvert Bell, who purchased the adjoining property in 1905. The Bell family licensed the reserve for grazing until 1940-41.
Surfing came to Bells Beach in the 1940s, but surfers were few until the access track was widened in 1960. The first formal competition was held over Easter in 1962 and continues, now known as the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, as a part of the World Surfing League Tour.
Historical Documents
Government Gazettes showing reservation of the land, naming and regulations(PDF, 20MB)
Letters from 1964 to 1971 regarding early management of the Reserve(PDF, 3MB)
Bells Beach Task Force Report to Council October 2015(PDF, 3MB)
