Down in the woods today - Gnomesville, Ferguson Valley, Western Australia

"If you go down to the woods today, You're sure of a big surprise" goes the song The Teddy bear's Picnic, but in this case they were not teddy bears, they were Gnomes. Thousands of them! Actually over 10,000! - though I am not sure how they counted them. 

Where were we? Gnomesville in the beautiful Ferguson Valley, about eighteen kilometres from Dardanup in Western Australia's beautiful south west. 

 


The number of gnomes nestled here at Gnomesville standing on logs, trailing through the bush, climbing among the branches, and strolling along the paths, defies description. They are all shapes and sizes and colours. Everywhere you turn there are gnomes! It is rather overwhelming to see so many gnomes in one spot. and its equally difficult to show you the enormity of Gnomesville with photos. You just have to go there. They even have their own Facebook and Instagram page.

   
But why are they here? Evidently there are are various stories about how the first gnome came to be at Gnomesville 21 years ago.  Some say that no-one has ever admitted to putting that first gnome at Gnomesville, but your can read the "official" version on a sign at the site, or in brief here.....

A roundabout was constructed in the early 1990s due to community concern about a school bush stop at the original Y-junction.  Near the roadside was a large redgum tree with a hollow close to the ground, and a local resident Kathleen Rees thought it was a great place for a gnome home, so she placed one here. In the round-about a cricket pitch, complete with gnomes playing appeared, converted to a football field in winter. The gnomes were eventually moved from the roundabout to the corner due to safety concerns for people visiting. More gnomes followed and Gnomesville grew and grew.  

Here are just a few of them! 

Today Gnomesville is the third most popular free roadside attraction in Australia. Gnomes visit and take up residence from all over the world. Tourist buses stop here. Clubs visit.  What does a retirement village outing and a motor bike touring club have in common? They both visit Gnomesville and leave gnomes here of course! 

You can even have a game of chess at Gnomesville.

 And to help you on on your way around the beautiful Ferguson Valley the Shire has conveniently installed a map so you can visit wineries, restaurants and galleries. It is easy to make a day of it in the Ferguson Valley. 

The Dardanup Shire now care for and maintain the site. But please aware this is on the edge of private property. Please be respectful and please do not trample down fences when you visit or look for a home for your gnome.
More info here - Gnomesville
- and here - Ferguson Valley

I hope you have enjoyed your visit to Gnomesville. Have you ever been there? Do you know of any other Gnomesvilles around the world? Perhaps you would like to tell us about them in your comments. 
ps - you might like to check out the gnomesville in Wickepin in Western Australia's wheatbelt, if you happen to be travelling through the area. 

Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week.

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