Gnomesville - Ferguson Valley

A group of garden gnomes gathered in the bush of rural Western Australia...

Current counts are apparently over 10,000, who have migrated here from all over Australia and around the world. it’s something very unique, a bit trippy, and quirky too. 
It is one of those things that have to be seen to be believed., it’s one of those sites that you cant stop laughing when you see it! It’s one of those places that your imagination could run away with you and see yourself on a horror movie set!

The exact location of the “gnome’s home” is off the roundabout that joins Wellington Mill Road and Ferguson Road in the Ferguson Valley, Western Australia. On the way back to the campsite we took the opportunity to check this place out!

Totally sober and no signs of contraband , all that I do know is that when you arrive and you will know you are arriving by the appearance of a few Gnomes on the side of the road), you are overwhelmed by the number of Gnomes all around you. Thankfully therapy was available after in the form of the local pub!

The True Beginning of Gnomesville
Over the years there have been differing versions as to how this wonderful village started. May this now set the record straight.
The roundabout was constructed in the early 90's as a result of community concerns about the school bus stopping at the original Y junction that was here.
On the roadside close to the current carpark there stood a large redgum tree with a hollow close to the ground. A local resident Kathleen Rees (now Kelsey), saw the opportunity for this hollow to become a home for a Gnome so she simply placed one there! Another local Tony Crowder thought that this gnome home needed a name and so put up the first sign
"Dun Gnoming" above the hollow.
The base of the tree is still visible even though the tree died and fell some years ago.
From this small beginning, others joined in the fun and "Gnomesville" was born. Gnomes started to appear on the roundabout as the current site was then quite overgrown. An old meter box was the first infrastructure to appear on the roundabout and this became "Gnomesville Garage".
Alongside this, a cricket pitch was set up for summer and converted to a footy ground in winter. These were set up by one of community's tireless workers, Kevin Campbell. The bronze thong and memorial recognizes the work that he did for the community.
It was Kevin who cleared the current site by burning the felled trees left after the roundabout was built. He did this as the gnomes on the roundabout were frequently vandalised and were being found all over the valley, on peoples fence posts etc.
The gnomes then moved over to the current site,
liked their new surroundings and continued to spread and attract new . neighbours.
The community took an interest and helped by maintaining the expanding area by whipper snipping and keeping the site clean and tidy. As most of the gnomes were now well off the road, vandalism ceased to be the issue that it originally was.
The wishing well was constructed by David and Cheryl Rourke of King Tree Lodge and many other locals also had their names inscribed in the surrounding mosaics. The well initially provided a source of funds that helped maintain the site but unfortunately vandalism of the lock and mesh cover soon stopped donations.
•After several years the Shire of Dardanup recognised the value of this growing tourist attraction and installed the picnic setting and carpark., In addition, the Shire now provide care and maintenance of the site.
This
community artwork has now
grown beyond all
expectations despite the risk of flooding and the washing away of some of the "locals". It now gathers gnomes from all over the world as the site has become one of the top 100 places to visit in Australia.
All this grew from one lonely gnome in a gum tree!Leia mais