In his book East Belfast, Images of Ireland Keith Haines writes that the Belmont estate gave the district its name. Belmot house was built in the 1830s, it was originally the home of solicitor Alexander Montgomery, and later of Sir Thomas McClure MP who sold the 70-acre estate in 1890 to the trustees of Henry James Campbell in order to found a school - namely Campbell College. Belmont Park was previously known as Campbell College Park.