Rodney Stevens
An exciting educational exploration discovering colourful cute garden gnomes titled Grafton’s Gnome Town Heroes has been launched as part of council’s Rediscover Grafton project.
Spawned from the popular gnome hunt at Grafton Regional Gallery, the Grafton’s Gnome Town Heroes is a fun treasure hunt for people of all ages.
Gnome Town Heroes features 20 gnomes of historical Grafton figures scattered throughout the Grafton CBD, plus a couple in South Grafton, each with fascinating stories to tell.
The gnomes are painted by local artists and connected to culturally and historically significant stories, places, events, and people of the region.
Clarence Valley Council CVC has developed a map to guide you and there are brightly coloured stickers that lead the way to the location of the gnomes.
Some of the gnomes managed to cross the river to South Grafton, while the rest can be found near buildings and trees in the Grafton CBD
Each gnome has a unique story inspired by local historical figures, stories shared by local Elders, and connected to buildings and trees from Grafton.
The story told by each gnome was researched and written by the Clarence River Historical Society, community members and CVC staff.
Notable gnomes with terrific tales to tell include former Jacaranda Queen and Grafton’s first female Mayor Shirley Adams OAM, Bundjalung and Gumbaynggirr Elder Aunty Robyne Bancroft who became Australia’s first female indigenous archaeologist, the man single-handedly responsible for bringing Jacaranda trees to Grafton Henry Volkers and Gumbaynggirr Elder musician and entertainer Uncle Johnny Marshall.
Local artists who helped bring the gnomes to life include Marie Taylor, Mackinley Cable, Kahlua Charlton, Jannay Daley, Levi Feeney Wilson, Claudie Frock, Danny Gorogo, Deborah McLennan, Caity Reynolds, John Skinner, Debby Taylor, Bernadette Trela and Kade Valja.
So, pick up a map of Grafton’s Gnome Town Heroes from the Grafton Regional Gallery, the Sir Earl Page Library or download it from the website https://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/Projects/Rediscover-Grafton
Bookings are required for February 18, when Gertie the Giant Gnome will lead the Grafton Gnome Town Heroes tour, which incorporates participants making a collaborative artwork at Grafton Regional Gallery
Grafton’s Gnome Town Heroes is part of Clarence Valley Council’s rediscover Grafton project to reinvigorate the CBD as part of the Grafton Precinct Plan.
The purpose of the Rediscover Grafton project is to add vibrancy to Prince Street over summer.
Other additions to the project included festive lighting of the clocktower, spot-lit trees and an audio-visual art projection above 51 Prince Street.
The Rediscover Grafton project is fully funded by the NSW Government’s Streets as Shared Spaces program.
Grafton’s Gnome Town Heroes will be active until March 2023.