Bell Street

Bell Street is a street in Redan which is 1.62 kms in length. It runs in an east-west direction, between Yarrowee Parade and Sutton Street.

History
The street was originally named Cobden Street, after the English statesman, Richard Cobden. It was renamed Bell Street in 1926, after Alex Bell, MLC. This may have been to reduce confusion with Cobden Street in Mount Pleasant. Alexander Bell (20 July 1850 – 27 March 1931) was born in Dunfermline, Fifeshire, to miner Alexander Bell and Sophia Williamson. He was born a month after their wedding in June 1850. He came to Victoria with his family around 1855. He became a grocer in Ballarat, owning two stores by 1889. On 2 April 1874 he married Jessie Scott, with whom he had nine children. Around 1892 he became an auctioneer and sharebroker in the firm of Bell, Lambert & Company later Bell, Lambert & Nixon, finally Alex Bell and Company. He served on Ballarat City Council from 1891 to 1899 and from 1910 to 1931, serving twice as mayor (1896–97, 1917–18). He was chairman of the Sunnyside Woollen Mills, director Ballarat Land Mortgage Co., Ballarat Terra Cotta Company; investor in many mining companies, president of the Ballarat Art Gallery, member of the Ballarat Water Commission, a founding member Old Colonist Association, vice-president Ballarat Benevolent Home, a member South Street Society, the Caledonian Society and president Wendouree Rowing Club for 25 years.

In 1917 he won a by-election for Wellington Province in the Victorian Legislative Council, representing the Nationalist Party. He served in the Council until his death in Ballarat in 1931.