Wild, wild horses

There’s something undeniably magical about Portland Commons, a place where history and nature intertwine like roots in the forest floor. Tucked just on the edge of town, this 650-acre stretch of bushland has a character all its own—a slice of the Australian wild, yet with an old-world charm that feels like stepping back in time. If you’re from Portland, you know it well: the Commons is a place to picnic, bushwalk, and breathe deep beneath the wide skies and whispering trees. And if you’re lucky, you might just catch a glimpse of its wildest residents—the horses.

The Commons holds traces of a quaintly English past, one where each townsperson has the right to keep an animal on the land. And so, in this modern era, the tradition lives on in the form of a roaming herd of horses. They’re not just a backdrop; they’re a part of the landscape. Watching them is like seeing freedom itself in motion—a group of graceful, loyal creatures moving together as one. They graze, drink from the clear, winding Williwa Creek, and roam with a true understanidng of the land.

One of my favorite things to do now is to visit these horses with a few leftover apples or carrots tucked in my bag. There’s something profoundly connecting about sharing a quiet moment with these gentle giants, feeling the nudge of a curious nose and the quiet, soft breath of a being entirely in tune with the land.

So next time you’re out in Portland, take a wander through the Commons. Bring a picnic, a pair of good shoes, and maybe an apple or two. You might find yourself meeting a horse or two along the way, their wild spirit as much a part of this land as the trees and the creek that flow through it. In Portland, the Commons is more than a place; it’s a piece of who we are, and for that, we’re proud to call it home.