Off the beaten track: Gnomesville

For Mini Me's six-month birthday yesterday I took her for a little treat to celebrate with people about her size.

Gnomesville.

Yes a town of gnomes off the beaten track, about 40kms from Bunbury, WA.

Just a fraction of the gnomes

The idea of a town of gnomes intrigued me. My mind started racing of all the humorous poses I would put Mini Me in. And I didn't want her to celebrate this milestone birthday on her own.

The reality is, it's cutely eerie. Kind of like how the Children of the Corn are adorable, but scary when they come for you.

It was a mission to get there. Actually I'm sure it would've been fine if I just kept driving down the same roads and not turning back all the time convinced I'd missed it. There it sprung up around a round-about in the middle of no where. It's like garden road kill.

There are a few theories as to how this town of Little People came to be. One is that a little gnome got lost on his way to a friend's place and kept walking around and around the round-about until he got tired and decided to set-up camp.

Another is that the first was placed at the site as a silent protest to the road works in the area, and others joined in his solitary silent plight. Another is that the workers building the round-about set them up as a game of cricket to amuse themselves as they worked.

Here I was. Despite my bladder being full to bursting and Mini Me serenely sleeping in the car we got out determined to find the perfect photo.

Mini Me with some of her new friends

At first I thought 'how quaint'. Then as we walked around with nothing but the sounds of the country... Insects, rustling, birds, wind through the weeds... It got a bit creepy. Hundreds of smiling happy faces watching us. The Australian Bureau of Statistics is yet to get a completely census from the little guys, so they're exact numbers are unknown.

There is every type of gnome imaginable. People actually make the trek to leave a gnome behind. I felt like the guest who forgot to bring a present to the party.

There are gardening gnomes, drunk gnomes, bus diver gnomes, whole families of gnomes, gnomes playing football, farming, eating, fishing. It was endless.

The birthday girl must've sensed something because she was getting grizzly. Or tired. Or maybe it's her birthday and can cry if she wants to.

Right. Quick photo. Opps. After propping her against a bus and running away to take the photo she face planted it in the dirt. Take 2. Better. Let's try another angle. Ekk. Crying baby. And now comes the broccoli vomit. Nice.

But we got a couple of photos. Including this 'Where's Mini Me' shot.

Where's Mini Me?

Gnomesville. It's interesting, especially if you're an avid gardener. And in your 50s judging by the few other people there with me.

Gnomesville

cnr Wellington Mill Road, Ferguson Road & Wellington Lowden Road, Wellington Mill, Western Australia
W: gnomesville.com