Australian Standing Stones detail

The main feature of the Australian Standing Stones is a circle of 24 stones, representing the 24 hours of the day.

Outside the circle, four "cardinal" stones mark true north, east, south and west. These four stones, with a single stone just inside the circle, form the Southern Cross -symbolising the link between the old and new worlds.

Another formation represents the Ionic cross, symbol of the early Christian Church and still used on Roman Catholic churches today. Other stones mark the summer and winter solstices, the longest and shortest days of the year.

Of three stones in the centre of the array:

The northern stone, the Gaelic Stone, represents the Gaelic-speaking Celts from Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man;
The southern most stone , the Brythonic Stone, represents the Brythonic-speaking Celts of Wales, Cornwall and Brittany;
The gold-coloured middle stone, the Australian Stone, represents all Australians.

Outside this array, there are distinctive stones:

The Gorsedd Stone, for the Cornish and the Welsh, and the Ogham Stone for the Irish.

The Ogham Stone has an inscription carved in Ogham, the oldest writing known to have been used by the Celts. It translates in Gaelic as GLEANN MAQI AONGUSA, the Glen of the Sons of Angus, or, more simply, "Glen Innes."

The Australian Celtic Festival, a major event on the national calendar, traditionally begins at the Standing Stones with the skirl of pipes from a lone piper at dawn. Highlights include a street parade featuring national groups and clans, sheep dog trials, pipe bands, Celtic dancers, concerts and the Kirking of the Tartan. Glen Innes has also been awarded the title of Honoured Celtic City by the Celtic Council of Australia.

MAP OF THE AUSTRALIAN STANDING STONES