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Bell's Line of Road provides an alternative route to the Great Western Highway between Sydney and Lithgow.

The road was built along the route discovered by Archibald Bell, jnr, in October 1823.  Bell's route took him from Kurrajong to Bell and then southwards to join the old Bathurst Road near Collet's Inn.

The route was surveyed in November 1823.  Surveyor Hoddle reported that the route was much better than the old Bathurst Road with difficult sections on Kurrajong Ridge and at Mt Tomah. 

A track was cleared along the route but costs stopped any real development of the route.  By 1833 Bell's Line of Road had been largely abandoned as a through road but was still used by pioneer settlers and as a stock route. 

It regained popularity when a toll was introduced on Victoria Pass.  Travellers often had to shelter in caves and overhangs.

Parts of the road were upgraded during World War II but the work was not completed until after the war.  When the road was finished in 1949 it still closely followed the original survey between Kurrajong and Bell.

Bell's Line of Road has has been improved significantly since.  Traces of the old road can still be seen if you look carefully.