It was first used by the Australian Agricultural Company at its Port Stephens settlement in 1825, primarily to assemble convicts for the day's work. That was from half an hour before sunrise, until sunset. Also, violently
as an alarm if a convict escaped.
In 1833 the A.A.Co. moved to the Liverpool Plains and established "Warrah and "Goonoo Goonoo", the former 101,013 ha and the latter 126,791 ha.
The bell went to "Warrah" and for 139 years was rung daily at the following hours.
7 am. Start work
12 noon.
lunch break.
1 pm. restart work.
5 pm knock off.
and at new years eve at midnight to usher in the new year.
After it was moved from "Old Warrah" to new "Warrah", it was erected beside the head stockmans home and remained on "the hill" for approximately 107 years.
In 1971 when Warrah was
sold, after the same ownership for 142 years, the bell was presented to the Quirindi and district historical society by the new owners Mr and Mrs W. A. Carter.
During the last 50 years the bell was rung by a member
of the Ernest Palmer family. Ernest was head stockman for a long time and the bell was situated in his cottage yard.
The "Old Hands" and those younger ones born and bought up on the station together with the management,
had an affection for the bell, and its ringings were accepted as tradition and part of daily life, but there were others, without the ties, who did not like it and said it had convict overtones.
Neighbours two miles
to the south said that they missed the bell when Warrah was sold.