gleninnes

Glen Innes, NSW
Australian Celtic Country
Tuesday and Wednesday December 28 & 29, 1999

Glen Innes is a small town tucked in the hills of NSW. It is a place that Brian had spent quite a bit of time at when he was younger as we drove down the streets and he was relating stories to me from his childhood days of holiday. Some things had changed as they do every where but he was still able to point out homes where he had spent time in his growing years.

It is rich in history and remembrance , we visited the Land of the Beardies History House Museum & Research Centre. Essentially it is a folk museum with displays composed of donations and loans from people of the town and area, so it accurately depicts the people of the area. I found myself feeling comfortable as I looked at the letters and cards from people I never met in person... but saw as killed in war by photographs. A feeling of familiarity was about the place as I passed the scouting section but the old hospital devices looked frightening and I wondered how patients ever survived the fear of going into a surgery if they saw these instruments. Old machines and collections of mined gems were shown as well. A very diverse museum that covered everything from A to Z in it's walls letting you get to know the real people that made Glen Innes a communty of family.

Honouring the Australian Celtic pioneers the Standing Stones, set in Centennial Park, are the official national monument. Glen Innes was chosen after the Celtic Council of Australia invited cities and towns to submit letters of interest. The Standing Stones of Callanish on the Isle of Lewis and the Ring of Brogar on the Orkneys were the inspiration for the design but it has it's own distinctive unique features as well as it represents a 24 hour day, as well as a Southern Cross, Ionic cross and seasonal solstices.

Of the 3 stones in the centre of the array the northern stone is the Gaelic Stone, the southern stone is the Brythonic Stone, and the gold coloured centre stone is the Australian stone. So every stone has an express purpose in being there as with all memorials and monuments in Australia this one had alot of thought in the design and purpose. They have festivals yearly which I'm certain would be magnificent to see.... Maybe someday I will make it back here for one and listen to the pipes firsthand as they play from the hills filling the air with music as the mist shrouds the stones.

After searching the bush for perfect stones only 3 were found that could be used in their natural state. The others were split from larger rock bodies using the same expanding compound used on the Snowy Mountains Hydro - electirc Scheme..They are 3.7 m above ground and weigh on the average 17 tonnes.

The unusual balancing rock is located a little bit from town along the highway in a private field. There are many odd rock combinations sitting in this field but this balancing one really seems to defy the laws of gravity as it sits what appears to be upside down. But it is real I've shown other combinations in the same field to support the oddity of the balancing rocks of the Glen Innes area. There were fences that prevent trespassing so I didn't get to photograph it from close up. I think I was lucky to simply be there seeing this. We had more to see in the area as we were headed for Pub Crawl on horseback yet. With country like this it would be a great adventure. I love adventure.