Gnome Village - 1 Old Mansion Echunga, South Australia, Australia
By Bushwalker53 and a resident gnome on 04-Feb-13. Waypoint GC45EZ1

Found the key and cache but couldn't read all the co ord

Day #13 Leaping Forward AdventuresIt was time for the solo drive home. With the oldest multi and some challenges on the target list, it was sure to still be a long journey home.This was an interesting multi. The key did not appear to be anywhere to be found. After copious searching I referred to the logs and noted OZGrumpys recent log noting the same thing and instead stumbling on the cache, which I ended up doing.Thanks Bushwalker53 for adding this cache to the worldwide collection for us all to enjoy. ----------------------------------------------------------The Ballarat GeoTour ends on 4 March 2024! Be sure to find all the caches and earn the souvenir before the tour is archived. The [Farewell Ballarat GeoTour Event - GCAFQ8B](https://coord.info/GCAFQ8B) is on 18 February 2024.Looking for caches to find when visiting Victoria? Why not check out the geocaching lists available on the [Geocaching Victoria Website](https://geocachingvictoria.com.au/information/great-caching-lists/). There are plenty to choose from including all of the previous nominees and winners of the Victorian Cache of the Year Awards.

Nice findTFTC

Amazing hide. Skip the key part next to find

After the visit to my parents I took some time out to grab some caches nearby. This one was very appealing with all the favorite points. I parked up and went looking for the stump. Although many could be found, there was no mint tin giving up its whereabouts. I walked the side of the road to the left, right up the hill inspecting every stump. From the corner post, I began back down the other side. I never did find the stump, but I did find an excellent cache. The door was open and the closed lock inside. I signed the log and closed the door ensuring it wont open by using a y shaped stick.

Thanks for the cache bushwalker53 and Co. Great work here, love it. Cache (ammo can) and book in great condition. FP4U Find #8293 at 4.36pm

Found this lovely cache with Team Waldron. A lovely part of the world. Thanks for bringing us here.

We noted the catch on the cache container is broken and the coordinates piece of paper is becoming difficult to read. .

Out for a days caching before Trail06 around Mount Barker.

We did the calculations and then onto GZ. The latch on the box is broken.

All caches found were in good order unless otherwise noted.

TFTC

Taking a wander around SA with goingplaces2 looking mainly for multi caches. This one was easily found and we are happy to claim a smiley on our map after signing two more names on the log. Gnome was home and let us in. TFTC.

We were concentrating on multi caches again today with ilook4geo and had a lot of fun doing each won. It was a successful day and we say thank you toBushwalker53 and a resident gnome for placing this cache. Actually the gnome was very helpful in that while he was actually at home he had left his door unsecured for us to enter. So we dropped in and signed his visitors book with both names.

Found with Olga at 5:42 pm. We spent quite some time looking for the key, but to no avail. I decided to get my lock picks from the car, and had the lock open quickly, only to discover that the hinge has been bent previously such that the lock is easily bypassed.
Nevertheless, a great little cache.
I think the cache is fine like this, so perhaps the CO either checks on the key, or changes the cache to a traditional.

TFTC- bit of a hunt to find the key, but was amazing once we read the instructions properly

TFTC - great cache to find. Have to read description carefully to find both key and cache. Lock does need attention

We went to look for this cache accompanied by our grand-daughters, 2WIMs (2 Wise Ice Mermaids), It took a little hunting to locate the information at the first waypoint but once that was found, the provided coordinates took us to the Old Mansion - a magnificent construction which has survived the elements exceptionally well. The cache and contents were in very good condition. Thanks Bushwalker53 and the resident gnome for a great caching experience. The cache earns a favourite from us,

Found with TIC_TAC_TOMMO.

Favourite of mine for the extra effort put in

I was almost too distracted by the cuddly cache guardian above to notice the cache itself.

The cache was a little worse for wear but still very cool and exciting. A little gecko has moved into the gnomes house to keep him company. Signed log and replaced everything as found. Tftc.

The event at Swan Reach this evening was a good excuse to head out for the weekend to camp and find a few geocaches, including this one.

I took a very convoluted, meandering route as I targeted some well-dispersed caches of interest. They included a mixture of multis, letterboxes, puzzles, a wherigo and the odd Traditional. Some were drive-bys while others required a short walk.

Thanks Bushwalker53 for the cache.

Great cache very clever.
The grandchildren loved it.

Today I’d planned a big afternoon out but got utterly sucked in by a Netflix series and the afternoon became a couple of hours instead.
Found 2 caches and 5 lab caches so was still a nice result for the effort.
Needed a multi today and had planned a different one to this one but that plan became Netflix. So this was the new target cache. I was attracted by the FP and wasn’t disappointed despite the fact that it’s a little worn now. The hinge has almost given up. Still very worthy of a FP.
TFTC! Everything replaced as found.

Thanks for this great cache!! Left the Purple Pony TB to spend some time with the Gnome and his friend until time to move on.

Found by the Aussie branch of Dobie's Pride.

I’d driven past this one many times before but had never stopped. Today I did. It took a little while to find the key as the GPS has me doing circles up the slope, but after returning to the road it was quickly found.

Then a short walk to a well concealed construction. Even though I had the key in hand, it’s obvious that someone has not used it at some stage in the past and it wasn’t really needed to open what’s there.

FP added for the cool hide anyway.

Thanks for the cache Bushwalker53 and a resident gnome.
Found on 28/12/19 at 12:44 pm.
Find #10373.

Having seen this one and a couple more out of walking reach back on 30 October, caching Totness Recreation Park, i wanted to get back to it soon. Seeing all it's Fave Points got me interested

Today after a quick find of the key i was soon at GZ to an amazing cache creation both outside and in. {A Favourite Point here for this effort for sure, well done [^]}

Accessed the cache which i might add is in perfect order as are it's contents and SL at 08:42.

[The only thing that needs attention is the state of the hinge that the lock is connected to. It is in need of replacement].

TFTC Bushwalker53, for showing me this area and for a very cool cache!

Awesome!!!!!!!! Found he final before the key lol

Having found ourselves driving along this dirt road we of course had to stop off and search for this cache - we are so glad we did as once we had found the key and updated our GPS with the corrected co-ordinates what a great cache awaited us! We signed the log book and then replaced as found. Thanks so much for the very nice cache - our last of the day - and congratulations to the CO for the nomination for the 2013 South Australian Geocaching Awards. A favourite point awarded and greetings from Zimbabwe

This is a fantastic and well thought out cache, took a bit to find WP1 as the stump has had some regrow the so is an odd looking tree. Soon found the key and walked to gz, an amazing cache.

A last minute plan to go and cache for the afternoon, it was a matter of where ever the next cache takes me sort of day, although that changed and the plan than turned to mt barker summit. I was restricted by time as I had to be back into the city for David wazza and Jess wriggly’s post wedding event. Overall a great day out exploring the hanforf and mt barker region, a total of 26 finds.

Thanks for the cache.

The mansion was located. Hang on that’s not the way it’s meant to be. I then spent the next 20 minutes looking for the key. This is what happens when you grow up as a latchkey kid. Eventually the key was located exactly where the description said. Great cache. Any gnome would be proud to live here. Another favourite point left in the porch. TFTC

Great to see a well put together cache like this one. Really good stuff. TFTC

Out with Mrs Parrot and caching like it was 2004.
Picked a theme and location.
Drove there and found some caches
My Daughter toke me abot the gnome caches some time ago so today we visited them.
This was our first stop.
A lovely presented cache.

First found sept 2014
Found again today
Unfortunately couldn’t find where the key was
But the lock is broken on the gnome house

Found the mint tin at posted coordinates. Entered next coordinates to find Gnome Village. It's lovely to see so much care taken to create an interesting cache. We have enjoyed your Gnome work Bushwalker53.

Tried this cache on our way to Melbourne, but cannot find the key.

Will try again next time.

After catching up on Game of Thrones this morning, I didn't feel like hanging around the house all day, so a-caching I went. I decided to go Trackable-Hunting in aid of Mary-Hyde Friend League points. My travels took me past this neat little cache. The uphill neighbour kindly pulled up to check if 'I was ok' (an increasingly common experience for me during caching: I must look like I'm lost, or something). I saw no sign of a possible key hide, but as mentioned in the logs it was unneeded. A lovely hide. TFTC.

Out caching with sir_spectre grabbing some caches and attending a couple of events.
This was a really cool cache. A favourite point from us.
TFTC

out with getnict for the day. Heading in the general direction of the nearby event and spotted for this one. Couldn't find the key but after reading the logs realised we didn't need it. Took a guess where the cache was and headed there. Found a well themed cache and added 2 more stamps and dropped a tb. fav point for the effort put in.

Drove by this one on the way back from the summit and Totness. Awesome cache, well constructed and getting a fav point for the work put into this one. Signed log and took TB to continue its journeys.

Driven around the Adelaide hills by a local cacher to find some of the best caches in them thar hills and I must say I appreciate the effort that went into making them I will be awarding a favorite point wish it could be gold star. All 3 of the Village caches are in good condition with one small problem, The one that needs a key, The hasp has been broken so you don't need the key to gain access otherwise they are all in good health TFTC Chingola from Guernsey

Out and about with Chingola, showing him the delights of South Australian geocaching. The gnome series had to be on that list. This one needs a little TLC, as someone has broken the lock.

Another day crossed off my calender as I headed out only 3.6kms from home...I don't know why I hadn't done this one before now...had my dog, Mandy with me for company...the tricky bit was where to park as I didn't fancy parking there on the road...I went down a bit & walked up...
Located GZ easily & was glad to find a key and co-ordinates...made my way to the cache...very creative...love the gnome theme...needs a new latch...it looks like it is locked but on closer inspection can easily be opened...thanks for this enjoyable multi Bushwalker53

Really appreciate the effort that has gone into this cache...a great effort! This was my 6 year old geograndson's 2nd cache so he's really being spoiled....a hard cache to live up to!! Thanks loads Bushwalker53. Have a fave!

Found on a great day's caching in a lovely area with The Windy Archers and 1/4 of The 4 Hawks

What a great multi to find on the weekend of multi prizes.

I had a bit of trouble locating the wpt1 key and coords in the knee high sour sobs - however once I stopped sobbing, I moved on the magnificent cache GZ. A rare Astro fav point was awarded. Love your work.

Thanks to Bushwalker53 and **clear skies** from TeamAstro. [^] Cache the planet!

Today the weather was perfect ! We decided to invite our muggle friends and they love it !! Lovely Village, it is like a good Aussie house with a cache guardian inside, but for our surprise it wasn't the only cache guardian !!!! A cute an friendly donkey came to say hi to us. Aaaaawww haven't see a donky for a long time and a he even pose to us for a picture.
TFTFun a fav from us.

A delightful cache find with Purrfect Di,
sadly the lock fitting has broken (hinge pin removed) but all is good otherwise.
Nice to see my older son was here last year too! (timotatus) !
Closed the door with stick for temp repair.
Left TBug.
TFTC Bushwalker53

Super cool love the gnome

Wow - what a very impressive cache! Well done. Couldn't find the key to this but as I arrived, the door was open. The gnomes must have been out and left the door open. I think this one need to change from a multi to a standard cache. Took Crocodile, left Madagascar Card. Cheers.

Just had a photo sent to me of the cache by a friendly Telstra technician - he found it while working there.

Gd find. Our son loved it. Big dead spider scared me. Also its lock is broken

Love the effort. Great cache

This was so much fun and awesome. Our kids loved it.

Out and about for an arvo of caching and wandering the backroads. let the kids do the doins and they came away smiling. Nice bit of work. Left a bunch of toys and grabbed the TB.. A fave from us. Thanks Bushwalker53 for the fun this arvo..

Prior to a girls weekend in Adelaide (from Brisbane), I asked in the SA group for recommended caches, this one came up in the list and I am so pleased it did!
I talked my muggle friend into the slight detour after spending the morning at Hahndorf....and quickly headed into the area of GZ. The cache was soon spotted but spent a little more time looking for the key, although also didn't take long.
I promptly signed the log, kicked myself cause I forgot to take swaps and left a trackable from one of my Qld buddies! Definitely a favourite point from me - so cute and so much work has gone into this cache, Tahnk you Bushwalker53!
If you would like to message me your address I will send you one of my pathtags!

After catching up with family we made our way home finding a few caches along the way
TFTC

Oh my the thought that went into this one!!! A definite favourite!!! I really enjoyed this one as did my kids . Tslssl took tb and geocoin to move along

Whoo Hoo find number 800!!!
Wow what an awesome cache definitely a favourite:)
While L was at a birthday party nearby D&V did some caching around the area, having already enjoyed a couple of the other caches in this series we knew this one would be special, so we cached around to make sure we grabbed this one for our 800th find. Having carefully read the discription D&V decided to suss it out a bit while L was at the party, glad we did, as we never would have found the key if we looked for it at night, nearly gave up when V discovered a cryptic clue in a pervious log. Left the key headed on our way, came back and made the find after the party so L could be there too.
TFTC

Left a travelbug

Found by Mary & David at 0950. Heading homeward after almost 5 weeks away. Cached our way from Adelaide to Horsham, with a small diversion around Tailem Bend. This one had been recommended to us by a caching friend at a pub dinner last night, and we weren't disappointed. An amazing effort. Wish all our grandchildren could see this. With wattle blooming and in this historic area, this little "mansion" is just so appropriate. Can't imagine the amount of work involved, but you definitely get a favourite from us. Our thanks to Bushwalker53.

Quick park and grab here. TFTC Great creativity for this cache. We originally entered from the wrong side for the key SL TNLN

Yayy tftc! Nice find after a huge lunch in town. Lovely cold day for caching. Dont blame the gnomes for being inside!

Loved the work that has gone into this one a very creative cache, enjoyed checking out all the bits and pieces definitely one for the geo kids a fav point TFTC Bushwalker53

Inggor and Trickytracy and the geokids. Great one for young and old

Found with Inggor and three geokids! Tftc

Great cache loved it.Found it on a very good day.Also took the dog for a walk.

As part of The_Xtrailers works every second weekend we try to make the most of the days that we have together. Today was perfect weather to go out and collect some caches as a whole family. So we wanted to make a point of collecting some that we had heard great things about. Well we were not disappointed. This cache is awesome, one of the best we have seen.

Thanks for a great cache. We collected all three and glad we did!

For no un gnome reason we done this series backwards but still enjoyed the effort put into these caches.great work. tftc

TFTC awesome!!

Found while geocaching with geo friend JustOkAsh. This was by far one of the coolest i have found
Good work TFTC

I called past here while doing as bit of maintenance on some of my gnome homes! This one has managed to age very well and the only signs of damage were a few missing shingles on the roof. Luckily I brought some bark, glue and a pair of snips with me and the roof was beautifully reshingled in no time! I then removed the cobwebs from the outside and sanded the walls a little bit before coating the whole thing in some spray on furniture oil to help preserve the wood. I was questioned by a nearby farmer as to why we were parked here and in the bushes but honesty is key and once we explained geocaching he soon let us be.
Happy caching everyone and enjoy the gnome homes! Thanks for all the positive feedback on them!
Also late last night I had an idea for another that I am planning on hiding elsewhere to bring more people to this area to enjoy the caches.

Very Very early morning find on the way to an appointment in Mount Barker!! Love caches like this that show a lot of effort by the hider! My muggle mate now thinks all hidden caches are like this one! Thanks Bushwalker53 for the adventure!!! .................. a favourite!

Worked out and found by The Boofs TFTC ☺. This is way cool! Chatted to Mr Gnome and all is good.

This was my very first geocache and it was such a fun one. Loved the challenge of a multi step (if that's the right lingo) with such a gorgeous cache to find at the end. Obviously lots of work has gone into it by Bushwalker53 - thank you!.

Might seem like a quiet dirt road but I had quite a few walkers go past while I was hunting so it was good training for stealth mode

This entry was edited by holsz on Monday, 02 February 2015 at 10:29:20 UTC.

This entry was edited by holsz on Monday, 02 February 2015 at 10:30:24 UTC.

What a gorgeous home. Took awhile as stump is sprouting. TFTC

Find # 2062 @ 1505 H

Over in Mount Barker with Tyred n Cranky for our annual holidays to follow the TDU.

Well today being a rest day for the race, it was my turn to push the peddles. Having a MTB I was able to tackle the gravel roads and boy was I glad I have low gearing, the hills are steep as.
But I was glad that I made the effort because this is an awesome cache, I will have to bring Tyred n Cranky back here for a look.

this is one cache that is worth more than just 1 Fav point and should be a cache on every ones bucket list.


TFTC Bushwalker53

Attempted this one today with Princess Consuela & once the GPS settled, we could clearly see the stump that we had to visit.
Only problem was there was a big brown snake curled up between me & the stump - my next foot step would have been on him [xx(] so we high-tailed out of there
BEWARE FOLKS!

We could see people have trouble finding the key by all the trampled ground and we were no different , which gave us plenty of time to amuse the donkey while we searched . Got it eventually.
GZ was most impressive and loved the greeting once we opened the door .
TNLNSL.
Thanks Bushwalker53 & resident gnome

What a great Cache really enjoyed this series ty
TNLN TFTC

Wowwwwww.
What an awesome start to the series.

2014-10-31 at 19:58, Epic! Fantastic effort. Boys absolutely loved it. Awesome,.you legends. TFTC.

Awesome little mansion . Took geocoin and signed log. Thanks for the effort in this cache, it's just lovely...bring on the power trail!!!!

This was an awesome cache... evidence of lots of hard work and planning by the CO. We had a fun morning revisiting the other gnome village caches to show them off to the members of our team that had been absent on our last visit. Then we discovered this one together and were amazed! We certainly did them in the right order to be impressed by each in turn (2, 3, 1).

We were glad that we were taken through the "hamlet" of Paechtown on the way to find this cache. What a great little place! We drove very slowly admiring the German architecture and quaint houses.
It was a great day for gardening, with a guy pruning some saplings beside the road with his chainsaw.
Due to the noise of the chainsaw and his appropriate ear protection, he had no idea that we were approaching down the road and we paid him very little attention, UNTIL... one of his saplings fell across the road (well 2/3 of the way across) right in front of our moving car . Thankfully, because we were travelling so slowly, it wasn't hard to stop and no damage was done... However, I'm not sure who was more surprised: the look on his face was priceless!
TFTC
Left a Geocoin in the gnomes' care!

What an amazing family friendly cache! Thank you

Enjoyed this one. Definitely worth a fav point for the effort put into this cache. Dropped off NZ Race Coin GC. Well done and TFTC Bushwalker53

I was in Hahndorf visiting an unwell family friend in the aged care facility with Dad and decided it would be good if I could find my cache of the day here in the hills. I suggested that to Dad and he agreed (somewhat relucantly) so I did a search for caches and found this one was nearby. I really wanted to do it as I had heard about it from Bushwalker53 himself and it had heaps of favourite points and a SAGA nomination.

And disappointed I was not I was a bit worried about whether I would be able to locate the key as several people have had trouble with this but made the find relatively quickly. The rest is history.

Fantastic cache, loved the hide, met the resident donkey guard and found a couple of TB's. This one is definitely a favourite - very creative. Thanks for a great cache Bushwalker53, keep up the good work!!!

Despite having found this before, Owl needed a PaF to find the key to the front door. A TB has been left in the mailbox.

Dr.Owl fetched us up in front of our hotel and took us to a great day of caching in the heights of Mount Lofty and surroundings!
A really great finish of the geocaching day! This one was the last we visited in the excelent company of local geocaching celebrity. Our kids, already a bit tired, have been awoken and full of enthusiasm seeing this cache
Favorit point to this one too!
Found together with Bučni Kompaski and friend Maja.
TFTC!
kompaski (3/4)

Wow sooo creative but few meters up the hill? ( more like down)

Very cool cache, kids loved it (multi caches are good) even the geowife got excited at this one...

Will have to bring Grandchildren to see this one. Well done.

Dropped in and it was just our luck that the gnome was entertaining. He offered us tea and scones of which we gratefully partook. We really enjoy thoughtful and inventive caches like this one. The gnome told us about his friend who lives up the road. So off we trotted to visit the whole gnome family.

The most beautiful multi I have seen! Said hello to the cache guardian. Thank you. A favourite from me!

Lovely Multi! This is my first real Multi and so glad we took the time to get this one! TFTC amazing!

What a gorgeous little find. A great multi to grab. Definitely worth a fav point. TFTC Bushwalker53

This is really cool too. So much work and effort. Deserved its award and another favourite point. TFTC.

Awesome cache. Loved it. It took me a while to find a key but it was worth it. Donkey popped in and said hi. Fav from me.

Thanks Bushwalker53 for the cache

Left Tb beaver

[blue]Congratulations this cache has reached the voting level for the SAGA Awards 2013. Please find attached graphic for reaching the final voting stage of the Awards.[/blue]

Wow what a cache. The middle Einstein found the key and the littlest Einstein found the Mansion. We love this type of cache so when we heard on the grapevine that this series existed we decided to spend our Australia day having a nice drive through the hills.
Thank you for the effort and experience this type of cache is what geocaching is all about.

What a fantastic cache - a very impressive structure! It took us longer than it should have to find the key as we had initially misinterpreted the description. The donkey in the adjacent paddock was keeping us company and seemed friendly but its owner advised us that Jacques is liable to bite or kick if people lean over the fence. The landowner had been wondering about the cache for some time and was happy to hear about geocaching and discover that the gnome's mansion was nothing sinister. TFTC

Found It!
Now that is a great cache!!! Very well built to! And then there was the donkey - I think that may have been the first time in my life that I've ever seen a live donkey!
TFTC (I would give it a favourite point if Groundspeak would let me!)

Perfect cache for what by coincidence is my 1000th cache! Beautiful effort. Thanks all!

Caching expedition with D1sc0v3ry, Schnail, Foxbane, Geosisters and Geomum. We headed out very early to beat the heat of the day. We had a goal and managed to get some extras. Great day was had by all who came, there were some very good calibre of caches out there.

This cache was brilliant!!! I enjoyed the whole series!!! So creative, TFTC

Nice cache lots of effort in this one tftc