We set course for Railton. We'd heard rumours of its unusual obsession, and decided to see if it was true. Railton has embraced its nickname: "The Town of Topiary." We quickly found out that this title is an understatement.
The first thing we noticed upon arriving in Railton was the meticulously sculpted greenery everywhere.
The Railton Hotel stood proudly, a brick building that seems to have been there for generations, with some expertly shaped topiary strategically placed out front. A fitting welcome to the town, we thought.
It's not just one or two shrubs shaped into simple balls, either. Railton's residents have really gone all-in on this whimsical art form. The creativity on display is genuinely impressive.
Take, for instance, the platypus. A platypus made entirely of shrubbery. You don't see that every day, even in Australia! It was wonderfully, delightfully bizarre.
The true showstopper, though, is the topiary train.
A full-sized locomotive, rendered in wire and foliage. You have to wonder how long it took to cultivate. We spent a good fifteen minutes just circling it, admiring the detail. It's a real testament to the town's dedication to its quirky identity. While we didn't have time to explore Railton in great depth, we left with a smile.
