The Glengallan story is one of boom and gloom: early years of wealth and standing; the successful pastoralist erecting a suitable ediface for his station. But before even the homestead was completed, drought and rural downturn would take their toll. The visionary John Deuchar would die, bankrupt, a broken man. Under later owners, the Slades and Gillespies, Glengallan did again experience good years but never saw its grand plan realised nor even known. Only one wing was completed. The plans have never been found. The homestead, incomplete and inadequate, eventually became derelict, seemingly beyond repair and certainly beyond the means of subsequent owners of an ever decreasing acreage.

The once-great Glengallan went into a decline lasting more than 70 years during which furniture and fittings were sold or removed from the building. The house survived event the post-war threat of demolition but the ravages of time and neglect took a dreadful toll. Glengallan's past is encapsulated in history. Its future, as a significant heritage attraction, carries the promise of return to glory. As history unfolds, and more evidence and information come to light, the restoration can continue.

Family History Centre 

TODAY a dedicated group of volunteers, under the guidance of archivist Fr Brian Sparksman, meets every Monday to research and database the many thousands of photographs, maps, documents and items that have come into the Glengallan collection. Since opening to the public in 2002, Glengallan Homestead Trust has been collecting and documenting history of the district, including that of Glengallan owner and worker families and early settlers of farmlands after the historic runs were cut-up for closer settlement. The Family History Centre does not seek to acquire items for collection or display but rather to to enable electronic databasing of available historical information. In May 2011, the 150th anniversary of the town of Warwick  will be celebrated with official opening of the Family History Centre at historic Glengallan, one of the first pastoral runs on the Darling Downs. Members of the public will be able to access Glengallan records for family or personal research as well as share valuable information, copies of photographs and documents that may be added to our database.

“So much of our social history disappears with the passage of generations or ends up on the local dump with the demise of the last of the line. We encourage people to share their stories which may be recorded for posterity as a lasting and living record of our people and our past.”  - DONNA FRASER Curator Glengallan 

ARCHIVIST Fr Brian Sparksman (seated, left) leads the

archives group volunteers: (back) Trevor Springate,

John Murphy Deirdre Llewellyn and (front) Jane Morse.

Absent: Moira McKee.