Australian and New Zealand Association of Bellringers

Introduction

At the ANZAB Annual Meeting held in 1992 – even though it was not recorded in the minutes – it was decided to establish a register of towers and bells in Australia and New Zealand. It was intended to include both existing ringing peals and/or bells which could potentially be used for change ringing. It was hoped that all bells and towers would be recorded including post offices, town halls and schools.

The information to be used:

• for historical purposes
• to help augment existing bells
• if redundant bells become available to find a tower for them in Australia and New Zealand

In compiling the schedule [see links below] – which would have commenced in the late sixties – and in conjunction with Christopher J. Pickford - I have made extensive use of lists supplied by foundries in England, Ireland and other places. Extracts have been taken from various books, magazines, newspapers, and other publications, and where necessary permission has been sought and given by the authors and those holding copyright. Some references are from The Ringing World, Ringing Towers, and The Ringing Years – my only major contribution to the world of literature.

For more detailed information on clock bells refer to 'Bells in Australia' and List of Clocks and Bells in Australia by C.J. Pickford who may be contacted at

George Dawson has a comprehensive listing of all known bells in NZ whether cast in England or locally. He can be contacted at

Carl Scott Zimmerman, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA, has a comprehensive listing of bells in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Rim. He can be contacted at

References

List abbreviation	Reference
'A Wayward Bell'	Ringing Towers, December 2000, vol. 56, no. 6, p. 14.
The Bells are Ringing	Helen Pettet and Anne Doggett, The Bells are Ringing, Melbourne, 2001.
Bleby	Elizabeth Bleby, Their Sound has Gone Forth, Australian and New Zealand Association of Bellringers, Millswood, SA, 2001.
Dove online	Available at http://dove.cccbr.org.uk/home.php
George Dawson or GD	George Dawson, 'List of bells in New Zealand'.
K or Keating	John Keating, Bells in Australia, MUP, Carlton, 1979.
C.J. Pickford	Christopher J. Pickford, 'List of Clocks and Bells in Australia – frequently revised and updated'.
The Ringing Years	John J. Cummins, The Ringing Years: A history of Sydney's Catholic Towers, Dragonwick Publishing, Goonellabah,  2006.
Bill & Helen Stuart	Bells in New Zealand, 1983.