Wellington Mill, Western Australia

Wellington Mill Western Australia
Wellington Mill tourist bay, with Jarrah log, saw and directions to Gnomesville
Wellington Mill
Coordinates	33°27′25″S115°54′29″E / 33.457°S 115.908°E / -33.457; 115.908
Population	151 (SAL 2021) [1]
Established	1896
Postcode(s)	6236
Area	13.4 km2 (5.2 sq mi)
Location	28 km (17 mi) southeast of Bunbury 15 km (9 mi) southeast of Dardanup 15 km (9 mi) northeast of Donnybrook
LGA(s)	Shire of Dardanup
State electorate(s)	Collie-Preston
Federal division(s)	Forrest
Suburbs around Wellington Mill: Ferguson Wellington Forest Wellington Forest Ferguson Wellington Mill Wellington Forest Wellington Forest Wellington Forest Wellington Forest

Wellington Mill is a locality in the Ferguson River valley, in the Greater Bunbury sub-region of South West region of Western Australia.

History

Exterior of Wellington Mill, c. 1900

In 1881 a timber mill was established in the area. In 1896 the Canning Jarrah Timber Company established a timber mill and town at Wellington Mill, which when established was the largest private timber town in Western Australia. The timber mills closed in 1929 and a fire destroyed most of the town in 1950. ^[2]

Attractions

Gnomesville

Some of the residents of Gnomesville which is located north of Dardenup in the Ferguson valley in the South West of Western Australia

Gnomesville is a tourist attraction comprising a collection of over 3,000 gnomes statues next to the intersection of Wellington Mill Road, Wellington-Lowden Road and Ferguson Road. ^[3]

It began in 1995 when gnomes were placed in the intersection in protest of the construction of a roundabout, ^[4] and has been added to by visitors over time.

In November 2024, a severe storm dumped more than 100 mm of rain on the Ferguson Valley, flooding the creek through Gnomesville and smashing or displacing hundreds of figurines. Shire of Dardanup staff began restoration work the next day and are developing a long‑term master plan for the site. ^[5]

See also

Western Australiaportal

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Wellington Mill (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. 
2. "Shire of Dardanup Municipal Heritage Inventory - Wellington Mill" (PDF). Shire of Dardanup. June 2003. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
3. "Gnomesville". Shire of Dardanup. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
4. "Shire of Dardanup Municipal Heritage Inventory" (PDF). Shire of Dardanup. June 2003. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
5. "Gnomes at popular WA tourist attraction bear the brunt of 'extraordinary' storm". ABC News. 20 November 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2025.