Old church and fire bell

This bell is just outside the original Church of the Holy Innocents in Belair, built in 1898.  The Church became a chapel for St. John’s Grammar School after a new Anglican Church was built adjoining the existing Parish Hall at Belair and the old Church sold to St John's Grammar School.

Prior to the formation of the Belair Emergency Fire Service, local residents of the area provided their own fire protection. On days when fires were reported, this local church bell was sounded. Volunteer fire fighters would respond, taking with them wet bags, rakes and shovels to extinguish fires that were mainly in the Park and foothills scrub.