But a ceremony to "bless the stones" can be said to be a tradition stretching back barely 40 hours (as of this morning) and no further afield than the Tarras Presbyterian Church.
In what organiser John Perriam, of Bendigo Station, described as a "somewhat quirky" ceremony, 14 curlers from the Cardrona Curling Club were instructed by master of ceremonies Sandy Hazeldine to kneel before their stones and give them a kiss.
Upper Clutha Anglican Parish vicar the Ven Damon Plimmer said he was unable to find any reference to a similar ceremony having been performed before but did draw attention to a phrase from the Bible: "He who is without sin cast the first stone."
No stones were cast at the ceremony carried out on the lawn outside the church on a hot, spring Saturday morning.
After some music and oratory, haggis and whisky were served in the traditional curling way.
Members of the Tarras community are hoping to gain ownership of the church building when it is sold by the parish, and an auction after the blessing raised $26,500 for the "save Tarras church" fund.
