4 days ago
Australia's 'most Scottish town' with its own Highland Gathering and tartan poles
It celebrates its heritage each year with a Scotland-themed parade.
All across the world, Scottish culture and heritage can be felt. While the country's whisky and the legend of the Loch Ness Monster are known around the globe, some towns and villages have links to the country that go much deeper.
The Daily Record recently took a look into settlements in Italy and Canada that are known for their historic ties to Scotland. Now, we are venturing all the way to Australia.
Maclean is a small town situated in the Clarence Valley local government area in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. It is home to a population of around 2,700 people.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Maclean is the "most Scottish town in Australia". The website states that this is due to a "combination of history, happenstance and a little marketing know-how".
The town dates back to 1862, when it was officially laid out. It was named after Surveyor General of New South Wales Alexander Grant McLean, who was born in Scotland and arrived in Australia in 1837.
A large number of the early settlers in Maclean originated from the Scottish Highlands. Due to this, many current residents of the town have Scottish roots.
The Europeans who arrived in the area forced the Aboriginal Yaegl people off their land and into small settlements. There were reportedly multiple massacres of Indigenous people along the Clarence River.
Today, although Maclean has a small population, it is renowned for its annual Highland Gathering. Named the Maclean Highland Gathering, the unique event has a history dating back more than a century.
The Maclean Highland Gathering takes place every year across the Easter weekend. It sees athletes take part in various traditional contests including shot put and caber tossing.
Music is also a major part of the event, with musicians competing in bagpiping events. The Maclean Highland Gathering also sees a pipe band march down its High Street, while there are Highland dance competitions too.
In fact, it is not uncommon to see locals don traditional Scottish garb during the event. You will likely see more than one Australian wearing a kilt in honour of Scotland.
The Maclean Highland Gathering isn't the only way the town celebrates its Scottish heritage. Dotted around, there are also many poles that feature various clan tartans.
For those interested in visiting Maclean, there is a store that sells a map detailing all of the tartan pole locations. Also available at the Maclean Scottish Shop are a collection of Scotland-themed memorabilia and gifts.
Given the town's history, it is not surprising that Maclean even has its own Scottish association. The group has a history dating back to the 1980s, with its members comprised of local residents who are dedicated to promoting the town's Scotland-related heritage—including its one-of-a-kind poles.
Speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Maclean Scottish Town of Australia committee president Robert McPherson commented: "We got to 100 poles and I said that was enough because it was all voluntary painted.
"Then we had people with good reason, who wanted to remember their dad or they had a 100th birthday or whatever, so we started painting again and we got to 240, and I had to put a stop to it because once they are painted you have to maintain them."
More information about Maclean and its Scottish heritage can be found on the Visit New South Wales website.
