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7 April, 2026
Lifting of the stones steeped in history
The lifting of the stones is being described as one of the ‘must-see’ events at this year’s Bundanoon Highland Gathering (Brigadoon) on April 18.
The lifting of the stones is being described as one of the ‘must-see’ events at this year’s Bundanoon Highland Gathering (Brigadoon) on April 18.
The event is being organised by the Kilted Warriors and will be held on the main oval commencing at 3.10pm.
Defending champion Tyler Helm will be back for this year’s event but will face some tough competition in the likes of Aiden Canini, Andrew Frazer and Bradman Houston.
The lifting of the Bundanoon Stones pays tribute a traditional Scottish coming-of-age ritual.
There are five stones – all modelled on the MacGlashen Stones from Scotland – weighing 100kgs, 110kgs, 120kgs, 145kg and 165kg.
The stones vary in size from 43 centimetres to a massive 50 centimetres (or half a metre) in diameter.
The stones are laid out five metres apart lightest to heaviest with each competitor having to lift all five stones on top of a wooden barrel four feet in height.
The person who can lift all five stones on top of the barrels in the fastest time is declared the champion of the day.
The history of the stones goes back over 1000 years to the highlands of Scotland when a boy was considered to have reached manhood when he could lift two stone in weight from the bare ground onto the top of a stone dyke or fence as we know it.
Most villages took part in this exercise and the stones varied from village to village.
In the late 1970s the lifting of the stones was brought back to life in Scotland with the introduction of the large round MacGlashsen Stones.
The Bundanoon Highland Gathering (Brigadoon) will be held on Saturday, April 18 at the Bundanoon Oval.
Tickets will be available at the gate.
The event is expected to attract more than 12,000 people from across the country.
Besides being one of the most successful events on the local tourism calendar it is also widely regarded as one of the finest Highland Gatherings in Australia.
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