'Stonehenge' replica Heads to WA Beach

One of Western Australia's best known beaches could be the site of a full-sized replica of Stonehenge under a controversial plan to lure more tourists.
More than 100 stones (the largest topping 7 metres in length and weighing more than 50 tonnes) are to be erected on a hillside overlooking Twilight Beach in Esperance, 740 kilometre southeast of Perth.
It will be the world's first full-size stone replica of the 4,000-year-old English prehistoric monument.
Originally the granite blocks, being cut at Esperance's AustralAsian Granite quarry, were ordered by Margaret River entrepreneur Ross Smith.
But his $1.4 million project collapsed after the proposed development went into the hands of liquidators.
Now the quarry has offered the stone blocks to Esperance in a project being spearheaded by the town's Rotary club and backed by Esperance Shire Council, the local chamber of commerce, and the Esperance Regional Tourism Association.
Rotary spokesman Kim Beale said the council had agreed in principle to provide land near Twilight Beach and projects were under way to raise $300,000 for the stones and an estimated $900,000 more for site works, a car park and amenities.
The last of the stones will be cut at the quarry this month, but a date has yet to be set for work to start at the site.
Beale said it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be involved in a project that could still be standing in thousands of years, stating âobviously some people may wonder why you'd build Stonehenge at Esperance, but the stone is already here and I think it's a good opportunity. I reckon it's quite fascinating.�?
Esperance Chamber of Commerce chief Marcus Tromp said the "ambitious" project would keep visitors and tour groups in Esperance longer and boost revenue for the sea-side town.
Tourism association president Heather Gee admitted she was sceptical about the replica at first, but she said the concept had grown on the town's tourism operators.
Gee explained âit was a concern at first because we thought it would be better to have something uniquely Esperance.
"But I think it could be a really stunning attraction. It's made out of Esperance pink granite and it's the only full-size stone replica in the world."
The monument would also be a focus for special events such as a summer solstice party, according to Rotary.
The original Stonehenge - England's most prized neolithic-Bronze Age monument - is a world heritage-listed site featuring an inner and outer circle of giant stones dating to about 2500BC.