Australia’s famous Nullarbor Plain is a lonely, eerie place. Flat and desolate, it draws the adventurous, the nomadic … the strange. Those who have crossed its 1,030 miles have reported UFOs hovering in the sky, and the mysterious Min Min lights dancing on the horizon. In the last few years, however, a growing number of reports have come in of odd, humanoid creatures living along the Nullarbor’s treacherous 90 Mile Straight—creatures so well organized and intelligent that they have formed their own community: BallaGNOMEia.

The first reported gnome sighting occurred in 2018 at the Woorlba rest stop, about 30 miles east of the Balladonia Roadhouse in Western Australia. Although no one knows for sure where the gnomes originated from (strong evidence points towards Queensland), or how they came to settle the Nullarbor, it is believed that they were brought over by “gray nomads” (retired folks who criss-cross the country), unaware that the mischievous beings had hopped aboard their caravans, looking for respite from the elements—and a free ride. 

Since its founding, BallaGNOMEia has grown considerably. Although caution should be exercised when approaching the gnomes (they’ve been known to abscond with a picnic lunch or two), they appear friendly enough and enjoy interacting with tourists. However, if you decide to camp at Woorlba, be warned that gnomes are a highly festive, rowdy species whose parties are known to last all night.