NO Stonehenge Replica in Esperance, Western Australia

The Rotary Club of Esperance has suggested erecting a full-size replica of Stonehenge in Esperance, Western Australia. The prehistoric English monument, believed to be more than 4000 years old, is located in County Wiltshire, England.

The proposed replica, to be constructed of granite cut from a local quarry, was originally destined for a location in Margaret River. As the original project proposal however fell through, the Esperance Rotary Club believes there exists an opportunity to have the replica built in Esperance.

There has been no formal community consultation about the proposal, nor has any consultation with the Indigenous community taken place.

There is no record of any historic relevance this great wonder of the world has to this town or to this community.

There is no evidence to suggest the economic benefits of attracting a few more tourists would outweigh the harm to the cultural and social identity of the Indigenous and non-Indigenous people who call Esperance home. The potential loss of amenity and emotional distress to the local community inherent in such an inappropriate cultural intrusion would endure for generations.