South West Life

It's been talked about in many circles, and even been discussed on Rove Live. Let's take a look at the unique and interesting tourist phenomena that is Gnomesville.

It's hard to find someone who knows just exactly how the gnomes started appearing, but one story is that it really did just start with one gnome, placed on the side of the road. Another story is that it started when the local council were building the roundabout and the workers put a game of cricket, using gnomes, in the middle of the roundabout.

Regardless of how it started, Gnomesville 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.

At the roundabout, you'll see that there are 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. You might walk 20 metres one way, thinking you've seen them all, and then you'll find one peeking at you 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, you'll soon see that 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 I was 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.