Where to find Melbourne’s best Christmas lights

SOCIAL media and FOMO is driving a double-barrel boom in extravagant Christmas light displays as crowds flock to see them across Melbourne.

Giulian De Vincentis’ incredible light display in Allumba Dve, St Helena. Picture: Mark Dadswell

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SOCIAL media and FOMO is driving a double-barrel boom in extravagant Christmas light displays as crowds flock to see them across Melbourne.

And as more houses light up, neighbours not wanting to miss out are also decorating their homes while easy-to-find online lists, social media posts and apps are directing more and more people to the areas where the best light displays can be found.

At some of Melbourne’s most popular Christmas light locations, that can mean traffic chaos caused by thousands of spectators each night, which causes headaches for local councils and police called on to contain the Christmas crush.

At Ivanhoe’s The Boulevard, about 75,000 people each year visit to wander past the houses along the street lit up in a tradition that stretches back to the 1950s.

Banyule Council supports the lighting display and for the past 15 years has managed traffic around the area in consultation with local residents. VicRoads and Victoria Police manages stallholder and busking applications as well as providing temporary toilets, first aid, overnight security, and manages any inquiries about the display.

The council also provides an event controller on site each night to help manage the event, which this year starts next weekend (December 10).

“The main role of council is to ensure, to the best of its ability and resources, that the area is safe for residents and visitors alike during this very busy period,” said Banyule mayor Cr Tom Melican.

Most of Point Cook’s Satander Cres is decorated with Christmas lights drawing thousands of people each night during December and the road is blocked off to ensure the safety of visitors which causes congestion in neighbouring areas.

Councils across Melbourne keep an eye on addresses during December that have been previously popular, or which become popular via social media, in case further action is required.

And local police patrols also keep an eye out for traffic congestion, stepping in at times to direct traffic and pedestrians during peak times or when calls are received.

“From time to time, council does receive complaints from neighbours in relation to Christmas lights or music and in those rare cases, council will work with residents to try and resolve issues, ensuring that it truly can be a season for peace and goodwill,” Mr Melican said.

Spending hours of November erecting extravagant lighting displays to spread some Christmas cheer has never been more popular according to lighting retailers.

Darren Lindell's Christmas lights in Santander Crescent, Point Cook.

A quick online search brings up many lists of Melbourne’s Christmas lights, searchable by suburb or ranking, so families can plot their own tour.

And now there’s even an app making it simple to find festive lights on your phone. App developer Luke Pearce said social media and apps were making it easier to find the brightly lit houses and increasing the number of visitors.

“We’ve all done it in the past, driving around to see the amazing Christmas lights, and we wanted to capture that and put it somewhere where you could easily find it,” said Mr Pearce whose business Autopilot Digital recently released the Melbourne Christmas Lights Finder app.

“If you log into Facebook or social networks and see all these incredible locations and you’re not tempted to go and visit, you might want to get yourself checked out.”

The app lists many of Melbourne’s most beautiful Christmas homes with more being added every day and visitors to the home can rank them.

“I think social media has also sharpened our competitiveness. Every Australian has got that competitive spirit in them and it shows over Christmas as the displays get bigger and better.”

MELBOURNE’S BEST

NORTH

118 The Boulevard, Thomastown

42 Gordon Grove, Preston

24 Allumba Dve, St Helena

SOUTH

1 Lulworth Place, Frankston North

151 Dalgetty Rd, Beaumaris

6 Tennis Court, Mornington

EAST

7 Angel Close, Narre Warren

43 Jenola Pde, Wantirna South

88 Parkhill Rd, Kew

WEST

1 Crana Crt, Hoppers Crossing

Wilson Cres, Hoppers Crossing

Santander Cres, Point Cook

DAZZLING DECEMBER

GIULIAN De Vincentis had a few thousand people over at his house last night.

For many the switching on of his incredible light display in Allumba Dve, St Helena, heralds the true start of the Christmas season — and certainly the season for driving around Melbourne’s suburbs looking at houses festooned with colourful lights, inflatables, snow and more.

Last night was the opening night extravaganza with road closures, security, a coffee van, doughnut truck, carols service, Harley Davidsons, performers and the CFA on hand to see him flick the switch.

Mr De Vincentis, 26, started planning for last night way back in May when he applied to Banyule Council for a permit and started designing the light display and the music it is synchronised to.

This year the display has grown to include a neighbour’s house.

“My elderly neighbour normally puts a few lights up in her garden and I help her do that, but this year I said I was running out of room on my house so I’ll put some on yours and she was happy with that,” he said.

Giulian De Vincentis has been decorating the family home since 1999. Picture: Mark Dadswell

This year there are more than 20,000 lights and, pride of place, is the shooting star on the roof that started Mr De Vincentis’ obsession with Christmas light decorating in 1999.

“The shooting star on the roof is the only original piece and it has become an iconic thing that goes up every single year,” he said.

About four years ago Mr De Vincentis bought controllers from the US to allow him to synchronise the flashing lights to music and his light display is now a half-hour show that draws thousands to the northern suburbs home.

Mr De Vincentis uses opening night as a major fundraiser for Make A Wish Foundation and has raised almost $9000 in the past four years.

He foots the bill for opening night from his own pocket, having to apply for a permit, take out public liability insurance, hire portable toilets and other costs. He also hired a producer to pull together a carols service.

The local Bendigo Bank also stepped in to help him plan the night and a security firm donated their time to help with crowds and road closures.

Planning started seven months ago but it is just over a month since he got his lights out of storage and started putting them up on his house.

“I’ve got a big booklet of plans and designs. Mine is very symmetrical and I like to keep it that way — everything has got it’s spot then I add a few things every year, we lose a few, and I try to make it a little bit different.”

And the reason behind all this work? Family tradition and Christmas spirit.

“My dad started doing it when I was young and I took over when I was in late primary school … but the reason I do it every year is to watch the kids come down and see their faces. It brings out the Christmas spirit.

“If I decided not to do it I don’t know what I’d do because I’ve always known our house to have lights on them and it feels like Christmas.”

HEARTFELT TRADITION

THE Boulevard is a street name synonymous with Christmas lights, but you won’t find Antonio and Matilde Filippi’s decorated house in Ivanhoe.

The Boulevard in Thomastown is where Mr Filippi started decorating his house with lights 26 years ago.

At first it was a few fairy lights and he added to the collection each year. Now the entire two storey house, garages and yard of his home is a Christmas wonderland.

Mr Filippi had a heart attack and triple bypass surgery 15 years ago and for the past 13 years has raised money during the lighting display for the Heart Foundation.

Anthony Filipino has decorated his Thomastown house with thousands of Christmas lights. Picture: David Crosling

The couple spend about two months putting up the lights, inflatables and other decorations — some of which Mrs Filippi makes herself.

“We have thousands visit every year and some nights people are lined up for three or four houses to come past,” he said.

The display changes each year. New this year are snow and fog machines, big light nets that glow overhead, an inflatable 3.5m Santa, adding to the 100,000 or so lights in a rainbow of colours.

Mr Filippi has no plans to slow down his annual Christmas passion.

“I had a knee reconstruction last year and my wife said to put less out, but if I have to put less out I won’t do it.

“I enjoy it and I love all the children here every night — it’s fun and everyone is smiling.”

And for the first year and more Mr Filippi will also have a smile on his face when he gets his December power bill.

“Usually it’s very high but this year, after 26 years, we have a sponsor. Red Energy has given us money to pay the power bill and whatever is left will go to the Heart Foundation.”

WINTER WONDERLANDS

GIANT polar bears, projectors and winter wonderlands are the hottest trends in Christmas decorating according to Christmas Elves general manager Jason McIntyre.

“Demand is stronger than ever with the amount of people lighting up their homes,” Mr McIntyre said.

Despite Australia’s summer Christmas, many people who decorate their homes are choosing a winter wonderland theme and one of Mr McIntyre’s big sellers are life-size polar bears that range from $200 to $1000.

“Winter wonderland is a hot but cool theme,” he said.

Snow machines, fog machines, massive snowflake lights and fake snow spray and stencils for windows have also been popular, as have projectors that beam moving red and green dot lights on to houses or messages like Merry Christmas.

“Moving lights are what’s important for a good display, as are flashing lights and bright colours, which is where much of our demand is.”

Large-scale lighting displays that raise money for charity are also increasing, but at the end of the day Mr McIntyre said his biggest customers decorated their homes for one reason only — the smiles on the faces of those who visit.