Gnomesville
Gnome History ......The Gnomemade Story
In 1995 the roundabout at the Wellington Mills, Ferguson and Lowden
Roads was built to alleviate a traffic hazard which was mentioned in
a mock Dardanup Council Meeting of year seven students at Dardanup
Primary School. On the recommendation of these erstwhile students
the Dardanup Shire Council then set the wheels in motion and built
the roundabout. Needless to say, this decision did create public
discussion as to the cost of such a roundabout in a deserted mill
town.
The spin off was that an unknown resident of Wellington
Mills (the prime suspects are Vicki Campbell or Kathleen Rees or Lisa
Ferris) placed a gnome at the intersection to watch as the roundabout
was built. Cheryl Rourke admits to placing the second gnome at the
roundabout. The “fad” took off and under the cover of darkness
many other gnomes were planted. Once the roundabout was
finished there were two teams of gnomes playing a game of football
in the centre of the roundabout! At the change in season there was
a cricket match being contested.
The Gnomes have since moved to a safe little Hamlet just beside the
roundabout and have happily existed there for many years.
The Hamlet Gnomesville is maintained by the local Wellington Mills Community Association.
Also many new gnomes are brought here by visiting tourists who
return to plant a gnome and make a wish, which it is believed the
little folk grant. The Gnomesville glade has been featured on many
Australian travel shows, radio and in the press. It has been
mentioned by international press, was featured on a tourism calendar
and has been voted one of the 100 unique tourist destinations. There
have been many celebrations of visiting clubs and groups and even one
wedding at Gnomesville. There are well over 5000 gnomes now happily
residing at Gnomesville.
One warning is needed to be heeded.......bad luck follows those who steal from the gnomes or hurt them in any way.