A National Monument
Created in 1991/92, the Australian Standing Stones in Glen Innes Highlands is the national monument to Celtic people, past and present.
The Stones acknowledge the contribution to Australian culture made by people from the Celtic nations of Scotland, Ireland, Cornwall, Wales, the Isle of Man, Brittany, Asturias and Galicia.
The Stones were officially opened by the then NSW Governor, Rear Admiral Peter Sinclair, on 1 February 1992.
The Stones continue to gain national and international exposure and the site is a major tourist destination in Glen Innes Highlands.
The ASSMB
The Australian Standing Stones Management Board (ASSMB) is a Community Committee of Council and is responsible for managing the site.
The ASSMB also conduct the flag lowering ceremonies, celebrating a different nation each month. The ceremonies often include music, anthems, folk dance, poems, pipers, food tastings and raffles.
Winter and Summer Solstice are important dates in Celtic culture. The ASSMB hosts a ceremony to celebrate these every year at the Australian Standing Stones site, which includes morning festivities waiting for the Solar Noon, followed by lunch at the Stone Cottage.
The annual Tartan Day Dinner is a fundraiser held by the ASSMB to help fund site management.
Building the Standing Stones
The first Stone was raised on 7 September 1991 by the local Tug o’ War team.
At the ceremony, emblems from the Celtic nations were placed into the excavation – thistle (Scotland), shamrock (Ireland), leek and daffodil (Wales), primrose (Cornwall), a piece of broom (Brittany), ragwort (Isle of Man), wattle (Australia) and a sprig of rowan – an ancient Celtic symbol.
A bottle of whisky was also poured into the excavation by the local Catholic priest, who remarked “For shame, for shame to be so wasteful. It should have been filtered through the kidneys first!”.
Ancient Celtic History
Ancient Celts were farming people who lived across Europe and the British Isles around 2,600 years ago.
The Celts raised stones as calendars to mark the change of seasons to help indicate when they should sow and when they should harvest.
Mystery and legend surround stone circles throughout the world, including our own Australian Standing Stones.
The Celtic Family Wall offers individuals, families, clans and societies the opportunity to house authentic stones from Celtic homelands and places of significant Celtic heritage.
Contact the Australian Standing Stones Management Board for information on how to place a stone and memorial plaque.
Highlands Shop
The Glen Innes Visitor Information Centre has a wide range of Celtic and Scottish clothing, books, souvenirs, jewellery and giftware.
Drop in or shop online here:
The Croft
Visit the Australian Standing Stones, where you'll find The Croft Celtic Cultural Centre and Café housed in the original Crofters Cottage, a replica "taigh-dubh" or "black house".
Crofters Cottage is both a Cultural Centre and Café that brings a little bit of Celtic culture to people's everyday lives through Celtic-inspired events and food, alongside beloved café classics. There is also a range of local products available for sale.
Celtic Family Wall
The Celtic Family Wall overlooks the Australian Standing Stones from the western side of Tynwald Hill.
The purpose of the wall is to house authentic stones from Celtic homelands donated by individuals, families, clans or societies.
The Australian Standing Stones Management Board invites you to provide an authentic stone/stones for the Celtic Family Wall. Stones may be collected from a Celtic nation overseas or be collected within Australia from areas or properties that have Celtic family significance. The maximum dimensions of stones that can be fitted into the Wall are 13cm x 11cm x 11cm.
The Australian Standing Stones Management Board arranges for the stone/stones to be placed in the wall with an appropriate plaque which the Board organises in consultation with the donor.
Stones can be placed into the Wall at any time, this might be a special time to provide a stone.
The cost covers all administration, the plaque and stone placement and varies depending on plaque inclusions.
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