It was during a recent Rotary beautification project on Australia’s oldest mainland bridge ( the Lennox Bridge at Glenbrook) that members first caught sight of what they thought could have been a Gnome.

Distinctive, by the high pointed red hat, the flash was seen late in the afternoon heading down the embankment of Mitchells Pass Creek, and then downstream.

Uncertain of the sighting, it was decided that work should proceed on new stairs from the western carpark to the creek bed, but with extreme care.

Gnomes are known to inhabit forest areas and particularly under tree roots where they build comfortable homes. Care was taken during the work, not to disturb the ground unnecessarily, so that any impact on a Gnome colony would be minimal

Whilst not native to Australia, Gnomes are reportedly migrating from Europe and Britain to make a new start in “new lands” where the impact of pollution is less. Gnome numbers in Europe are on the decrease and drastic action was required.

New access to the base of Lennox Bridge may create a disturbance to the Gnome colonies in the area, so we urge people using the picnic facilities and stairs to use extreme caution.

As a result of the discovery, and due to the sensitivity shown during construction, the Rotary Club of Lower Blue Mountains were invited to host the inaugural Australian Gnome Convention on Australia Day 2005 which was a great success with approximately 200 delegates in attendance.

The Australian Gnome Convention is now an annual event to be held on every Australia Day at Glenbrook Park in Glenbrook Village, Blue Mountains.

For more information on the Gnome Convention and more facts about Gnome colonies, see our website on australiangnomeconvention.com.au (this site) or email