Wonky tree decorations embrace the ‘quirky’

LISMORE’S ‘bent’ Christmas tree has received a facelift, with new baubles, stars and a 2.6m fibreglass Santa laid over the one-of-a-kind pine yesterday morning.

The bent christmas tree on Woodlark Street has a fresh look with Father Christmas holding up the tree. Photo Marc Stapelberg / The Northern Star. Picture: Marc Stapelberg

LISMORE'S 'bent' Christmas tree has received a facelift, with new baubles, stars and a 2.6m fibreglass Santa laid over the one-of-a-kind pine yesterday morning.

The big feature of the new decorations - which cost Lismore City Council $48,000 - is the custom-made Santa, standing 2.6m tall and appearing to hold up the leaning tree like a festive incarnation of Hercules.

Lismore mayor Jenny Dowell said she suggested the idea after interest in Lismore's tree - not all of it positive - went viral last year.

A defiant decision was made to embrace Lismore's quirkiness in all its 'bent' glory, but the old decorations were devoured by termites while in storage.

Lismore City Council's executive director sustainable development, Brent McAlister, said the new decorations were purchased locally and staff had looked for a cost-effective but attractive solution.

"This is the start of an ongoing process to gradually improve the city's Christmas decorations," he said.

"We simple do not have the funds to make too big a splash all at once, so we will build on what we have this year in the years to come."

"We hope the community likes what we have tried to do and has a very merry Christmas!"