Jimbour House holds a strong and deep history of people who have lived these, both past and present. The Bell and Russell families held the same vision, that despite the residence being for their families, Jimbour House was destined to be enjoyed and experienced by all.
The Bell Family
The Bell family were the original owners and builders of Jimbour House purchasing the property in 1844 after traveling to Australia from Northern Ireland. In 1841 the property had become the first fully stocked station on the Darling Downs with a flock of 11,000 sheep and 700 cattle.
Thomas Bell and his three sons, Joshua Peter Bell, John Alexander Bell and Marmaduke Bell managed the station. When Thomas Bell died in 1874, Joshua Peter took over and became the manager of the station. Jimbour House became a hallmark of Queensland’s early pastoral history.
Joshua Peter built a two-storey residence for the family, of blue stone and cedar in 1868. The lower storey stands today and is known as the Blue Stone Building.
He also built the grand sandstone building which we know today as the Main Residence. Joshua Peter married Margaret Dorsey in 1861, and they had six children who moved to the residence in 1877. Joshua Peter’s career was said to be characterised by his strength, integrity and honorable dealings, occupying many executive positions including Minister for
Lands, Speaker, President of the Legislative Council and finally, acting Governor of Queensland. He was knighted in 1879.
In 1881, Joshua Peter died suddenly in Brisbane, having separated his pastoral interests from the House. Following the decline of the Bell family fortunes, the property was bought by the Russell family who undertook major renovations to the property.
The Russell Family
Wilfred Adams Russell, an innovator of the pastoral industry, and his wife, Millicent Russell, the daughter of a prominent horse and cattle studmaster purchased the property in 1923.
At the time the property was in a state of disrepair and after extensive renovations, the Russell family restored the home to its former grandeur and marked the reopening of Jimbour House with a fundraising ceremony for Dalby Hospital in November 1925, pictured below.
The re-opening of Jimbour House in 1925.
This commitment to work for the wellbeing of the community was carried throughout the Russell family. Wilfred and Millicent married in 1901 and raised five children. In 1926 Wilfred was elected to state parliament as the Member for Dalby and played a prominent role in the life of the district. Wilfred donated 1200 acres in the Bunya Mountains to the public, which remains a public reserve maintained by the Western Downs Regional Council.
Later that year, the west of Queensland was in severe drought, impacting cattle and agriculture. Wilfred constructed several large motor vans and used them to convey sheep from drought stricken areas to fresh pastures, thus pioneering the transport of stock by motor vehicle.
After Wilfred’s death, management of Jimbour House passed to his son Charles Russell and Charles’ wife Hillary, who loved the place dearly. Under Charles’ guidance, the property continued to develop agriculturally, even through the great economic depression.
Continuing the connection between Jimbour House and Queensland politics, Charles was elected to state parliament as member for Dalby in 1947. He entered Federal Parliament in 1949 as Minister for Maranoa, a position he held until 1951.
After Charles’ death in 1977, his wife Hilary continued to live at and care for Jimbour House for a further 20 years, with the help of her son Alec. Hilary continued to play a leading role in the community, including sharing Jimbour with the Dalby Regional Arts Council which provided an opportunity for many to experience the House’s cultural heritage. Hilary ensured the grounds were for everyone, and it remains that way to this day. She was honoured for her contributions in 1979 when she was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. Hilary left Jimbour House to live in Brisbane in 1997, where she passed in 2001.
Today, their son David, together with David’s wife Deborah (until her passing in 2011), carries forward the Jimbour tradition.
David has maintained the historic connection of Jimbour House with public life, serving as President of the National Party at Queensland and Federal levels, and Vice President of the Federal Liberal Party following the merger of the National and Liberal Parties in Queensland. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1986.
In 2010 David was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun with Gold Rays and Neck Ribbon for services to Australia Japan relations. In 2012 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to Australian politics, taxation law, legal education and the community.
In 2000, at a function commemorating the 75th anniversary of the re-opening of Jimbour House by his grandparents and launching the property’s new ventures in wine and tourism, David said:
”If there could be anything which could detract from this evening, it is the absence of the one other person whose labours over the years have made Jimbour what it is today. In the whole of the history of Jimbour, no one – not Lady Bell, not my grandparents, or even my father (who runs a close second at 45 years) – exceeds my mother’s period of residence here of 53 years.
Explore Jimbour House’s history today by visiting the beautiful property – Only a 2.5 hour drive from Brisbane and 1.5 hour drive from Toowoomba.
