There's no place like Gnome
GNOMESVILLE



It's been talked about in many circles, and even been discussed on Rove Live - I am talking off course about the unique and interesting tourist phenomena that is Gnomesville.

Looking at our recent holiday video, we re visited this wonderful quaint little place, and enjoyed seeing gnomes that usually only reside in people's gardens.

It's hard to find someone who knows just exactly how the gnomes started appearing, but the story is that it really did just start with one gnome, placed on the side of the road, and it has now grown to a community of what some people estimate is over 1000!


Gnomesville is situated at the roundabout that joins Wellington Mill Road and Ferguson Road in the Ferguson Valley area. One of the easiest ways to get there is to head east out of Dardanup.

It took a long drive, and the feeling that we'd taken the wrong turn somewhere along the way, before we came upon the roundabout that we'd been told to look out for several kilometres back.


The suddenly at the roundabout, we saw gnomes scattered everywhere - in the bush, alongside the road, down the various pathway - kids and adults alike will have a great time just trying to find them all.

We walked along the pathway 20 metres one way, thinking we'd seen them all, and then we would look, and find one peeking at us from up in a tree or from behind a log!

And it's not just a pile of gnomes on the side of the road - it really is like a little community. With groups of gnomes playing cricket, flying planes, having parties, and other such activities. There's a lot going on. Meet the Rolling Gnomes (the rock band), see the Gnoman Empire, experience There's No Place Like Gnome, and many many other Gnome puns.

So what is the attraction of a bunch of gnomes on the side of the road? Well, whatever it is, it attracts busloads of people everyday. It has now become a very popular tourist attraction, one that all the tour companies and tourist bureaux promote, and people are encouraged to visit and even bring their own gnome from their own part of the world, write a little message on it, and leave it there.

This idea has led to quite an national and even international feel to the gnome community. Last time we were there I saw gnomes from London, Sydney, New York, Broome, and many other places from all over Australia and the world.

Check it out sometime. There's picnic tables for those who want to stay a while, and the surrounding countryside is beautiful, with the King Tree and Wellington Mill close by too. Make a day of it. We did!