Rodney the Gnome firmly planted in Newtown after creator sells up
New owners of a Pakington Street property have promised to look after the whimsical home of a gnome that’s become a popular neighbourhood attraction.
The whimsical tree trunk home of one of Newtown’s shyest residents, Rodney the Gnome, will continue to delight passers-by despite the long-time owners moving on.
A miniature sold sticker has just gone up on the gnome’s Pakington Street letterbox that became a popular attraction during last year’s lockdown.
Homeowner Rodney Wright created the blue front door for the character on a nature strip tree outside his house and spread neighbourhood cheer by replying to children who wrote his namesake letters.
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He and his wife have recently sold 383 Pakington Street, Newtown, but Buxton agent Tom Butters said the Melbourne buyers had promised to look after Rodney the Gnome’s home.
Mr Wright said the tree had evolved over several years and become a drawcard for families walking down to the nearby Barwon River.
“During lockdown a lot of kids were dropping letters in the letterbox and they wanted to know what Rodney looked like — I told them he only comes out at night — so I started draw drawing pictures and returning them,” he said.
“There were a lot of people stopping there to get a selfie.
“Kids stopped and knocked on the door and the funniest one was the older people lying down on the grass for selfies.”
The couple’s home of 37 years was snapped up in four days for $55,000 above the top of the range when the Melbourne buyers pounced after the first open home.
They paid $1.135m for the solid brick, four-bedroom house between the river and the Pakington Street’s shopping strip.
Mr Butters said the mixed use zoning that paved the way to run a business from the home fuelled competition.
But he said it was the industrial feel of the river-end neighbourhood that appealed most to the buyers, who wanted a home in the area’s school zone.
“It has got that funky Richmond vibe and the buyers loved that,” he said.
He said the sale had prompted many people to reach out and tell him how much their kids loved to visit Rodney.
Originally published as Rodney the Gnome firmly planted in Newtown after creator sells up