GLORIOUS GLENGALLAN

[Maureen K Clifford]

Situated in South East Queensland just outside of Allora and Warwick is a house frozen in time. Glengallan is not just any house but is one of the few remaining examples build in local sandstone of a substantial 19th century Queensland country property. It stands as a tribute to its visionary builder and to the craftsmen of its day – but it is also a tribute to the people of the 21st century who bought it back to life with fine building and restoration skills, and to those people with dedicated fund raising skills who were determined to ensure this exquisite piece of history was not lost.

They are truly the friends of Glengallan – which was originally part of the Canning Downs station.

http://www.glengallan.org.au/




GLORIOUS GLENGALLAN

If you head out from Toowoomba going west to Warwick town
near Allora there’s a house that’s worth inspection.
It got the name Glengallan back in 1841
named by the Campbell’s to recall their Scots connection.

John Deuchar built Glengallan back in 1867
He wanted a home befitting his station
in life. He was successful then but bad times came a calling
He died a broken bankrupt. Glengallan his infatuation

Over the years there’s been many a man attach their name
to Glengallan, without pinnacles of fame.
It was never completed all Johns dreams had come to nought.
It was left to rot and moulder – such a shame.

Insolvent in 1870, John moved out to Warwick town
and became an alcoholic so they say,
but rose up from his sickbed to fight raging bushfires
and was thrown from off his horse and passed away.

The ghost of the Glengallan gates is still there so ‘tis said.
Is it John? Perhaps. But no one really knows.
Although the gates themselves have long mouldered in the clay
horses at night time past the gateposts will not go.

It’s just one of those mysteries that no one can explain,
the ghost some said was merely a large owl
that roosted on the sagging gate, and flying off disturbed the weight
and caused the gate to open with a growl.

For seventy years Glengallan stood unloved out on the plain
with only rats and mice for company
perhaps a black horse visited with a ghostly rider up
who despaired to see inside his house a tree.

But now Glengallan lives again her history secure
and documented for the world to see.
One Jackie Howe is on the books – a shearer of renown
who shore sheep back there in 1870.

They have struck Glengallan Roses from original root stock
from the sole la-marque refound in 1993.
For a modest sum, you can buy one of these roses for your garden.
A scented sweet time capsule of old Glengallans history.

Maureen Clifford © 11/12

[Heather]

Looks like a stunning place Maureen - nice to see the pictures to go with the poem. Must have been one hell of a job to restore it. Thanks for sharing it.

Heather

[Maureen K Clifford]

It was Heather a truly massive job and at great cost but well worth it IMO . It is a beautiful place

More interesting info on this link http://www.heritageaustralia.com.au/pdf ... gallan.pdf

[Bob Pacey]

Love the old buildings Maureen.

They just have a feeling of clamness about them.


Cheers Bob

[Maureen K Clifford]

Me too Bob - one of my most favourite places is Charters Towers - love the old Stan Pollard store - visited there often and the Stock Exchange and Commonwealth Bank are magnificent, and Tenterfield always ticks the boxes with me as well. When I lived in Sydney the Rocks area held endless fascination for me.

I'm just an old fashioned girl