A $10,000 vote of thanks

The Glengallan Gates in Leslie Park.

By Jeremy Sollars

BREAKING: A Toowoomba businessman with family links to Glengallan, Warwick and Allora has donated $10,000 to Glengallan 150th Anniversary projects including return of the Glengallan Gates.
Glengallan Homestead Trust chair Donna Fraser said while the donor wished to remain anonymous, he wanted it known that his $10,000 donation was made in appreciation of the dedication, voluntary effort and expertise contributed by locals to establish and maintain Glengallan as a local tourist attraction.
The once derelict Glengallan was now a real asset to the local community and to future generations, the generous benefactor said.
The 150th anniversary celebrations will centre on Glengallan House, built in 1867, unoccupied since 1927 and rescued from ruin by a 2001 Centenary of Federation-funded restoration.
Celebrations will culminate with the anniversary dinner on 16 September at which items long-removed from the deserted property will be presented for permanent display.
Anniversary projects include a move to have the original gates and sandstone pillars re-instated after relocation to Leslie Park in the 1940s when Glengallan head station buildings were being dismantled.
“It is a miracle that anything survived,” trust chair Donna Fraser said.
“There would have been nothing left of Glengallan – even the sandstone house was due to be demolished and rebuilt as classrooms at Slade School”.
Donna said as a special concession to younger generations, children will enjoy free admission to Glengallan throughout the anniversary year.
Local schools are already taking advantage with bookings for primary school groups to visit the Homestead and heritage gardens in coming weeks.
The Southern Downs Regional Council is conducting a public consultation exercise to find out community views about moving the gates.
For more information visit www.sdrc.qld.gov.au