Sign of the Bellbird

Harry Ell on right with Leonard Cocayne

I have always been interested in Harry Ell, the dedicated conservationist  who dreamt of building a Summit Road along the Port Hills and over the Peninsula and oversaw much of its development (during the Depression) as well as the building of four rest houses - Sign of the Takahe, Sign of the Kiwi, Sign of the Bellbird and Sign of the Packhorse.


The Sign of the Takahe and The Sign of the Kiwi I would pass maybe six times a week on my way from Governors Bay to Christchurch and back. The Sign of the Packhorse I can see from my kitchen window, a tiny speck in the distance on the saddle below Mt Bradley, across the harbour. Reaching the Packhorse requires a dedicated tramp from Kaituna Valley. The Sign of the Bellbird, though not far as the crow (!) flies and accessible by car, is off the beaten track and requires a planned visit.


So this afternoon (having started work early morning and feeling I had earned a break) I drove up to The Sign of the Kiwi, turned left and made my way on round the Summit Road to the start of Ellas Track. (If 'Ella' was a person then this seems to have been forgotten as the track name does not use an apostrophe - must do some digging...).The track winds around the cliff edge high above Governors Bay, offering a true bird's eye view of the Bay and a panorama of Lyttelton Harbour.

Lyttelton Harbour from Ellas Track

At one point there must have been an earthquake-related rock fall because the narrow track became decidedly challenging. I crossed this section knowing I was lucky not to have lost my footing on the loose volcanic grit; knowing actually that I was foolish and should have turned back!

I came out onto the road just short of the Bellbird which, like the Packhorse, is now a ruined shell - but which nevertheless offers welcome shelter, an alternative gathering place for young people and a wonderful view across the Canterbury Plains. Interestingly the building shows no signs at all of earthquake damage though I doubt it has been strengthened.

Sign of the Bellbird

Bellbird with Canterbury Plains below, Southern Alps obscured by cloud

Later I was delighted to find this photo from Christchurch City Libraries archive in a google search...

The Sign of the Bellbird, a tea-house, Kennedy's Bush on the Port Hills, Christchurch 
[ca. 1925]