Melbourne’s Xmas tree to find a new home
METRO rail works may have thrown a spanner into the Christmas celebrations at City Square — but City of Melbourne has found a new CBD location for the season’s festivities.
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MELBOURNE’S Christmas festivities will this year switch to Federation Square and the city’s laneways because City Square is out of action with Metro rail works.
The city’s 16m tree will be erected opposite the cathedral, while the giant Christmas bauble, so popular with the public last year, will return.
New decorations including Santa’s throne and sleighs will also be unveiled through the city.
The new decorations will cost the city $1.25 million, while Town Hall’s total festive spending will top a record $5.4 million for its one-month festival, up from $3.78 million in 2015.
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle promised that 2017 would be the “biggest and best Christmas ever”.
“Visitors will be taken on a uniquely Melbourne journey that starts and ends at St Paul’s
Court in Federation Square which will be transformed into a magical Christmas wonderland,’’ Cr Doyle said.
Past celebrations have been held in City Square but it was taken over in April by the Metro rail tunnel construction works.
As many as 250,000 people attended last year’s festivities.
This year’s Federation Square venue will also be home to Santa’s House and a nativity scene.
The popular Christmas projections will return again with the locations for the Santa-themed animations to be announced in coming weeks.
And in the digital age, no event is complete with its own smartphone app.
The council is promising a “augmented reality app” for laneways including Degraves St and Howey Place.
“The app will turn our famous sites into enchanted wonderlands and popular animated characters
including Santa and the nutcracker soldier come to life right before their eyes.” Cr Doyle said.
“The Christmas trading season is the most important time of year for city businesses.”
“That is why we are investing a record $5.4 million to make this year’s Christmas festival our most successful ever.”
Cr Doyle has been critical in recent years of other Melbourne councils downgrading its Christmas celebrations.
In contrast, the City of Melbourne has increased its spending on festive decorations to encourage shoppers and visitors into the city.