About the Area

The Glen Innes Severn Local Government Area (LGA) contains the township of Glen Innes, the villages of Emmaville, Deepwater, Red Range and Glencoe, and the hamlets of Glen Elgin, Wellingrove, Wytaliba, and Dundee.

Glen Innes Severn LGA is located within the Federal Seat of New England, and the State Seat of the Northern Tablelands.

The original inhabitants of the area were the Ngarabal people.

The first European settlers to the district were Scottish. For this reason, Glen Innes Severn LGA is known as Celtic Country, and is the home of the Australian Standing Stones. This national monument to the area's Celtic pioneers consists of 40 granite monoliths. Of these, there is a circle of 24 stones representing 24 hours of the day, three central stones, four cardinal stones marking true north, east, south and west, and seven stones marking summer and winter solstices, the longest and shortest days of the year. They are unique in the southern hemisphere and reflect Glen Innes's Celtic heritage. The Standing Stones are the focus of The Australian Celtic Festival, which is held each autumn.

The Glen Innes Severn LGA is growing and thriving. The population is approximately 8793 (2006 census). The local economy is strongly based on agriculture (41.9%), with a significant tourism/service sector (32%) also operating. The remainder of the economy is made up of retail trade (14%), and health and community services (12.1%). Opportunity exists for most forms of agriculture. The area is well suited for stud livestock enterprises, equestrian pursuits and intensive livestock industries.

The Glen Innes Severn LGA is located near the crest of the Great Dividing Range, with an elevation of 1062m.