Why a passion for Christmas made this couple move house
Such is their passion for Christmas, Jamie and Laeticia Lehmann moved house especially to accommodate their growing festive lights display.
The couple left Coopers Plains last year for a smaller house, with a much larger storage shed, in Mansfield on Brisbane’s southside.
The result is an elaborate, sprawling lights display that elicits squeals of delight from young children. On Sunday night, the Lehmanns’ yard was teeming with parents, toddlers and children, as well as elderly couples.
The Lehmanns’ Christmas lights display.
Three large beams of light, visible from surrounding suburbs, are projected into the sky from Lehmanns’ house.
“In a conscious effort to focus on our Christmas passion and streamline our operations, we made the decision to downsize our living space,” the couple wrote on the Christmas Light Search website.
The Lehmanns’ Christmas lights display on the corner of Ham Road and Brochet Street in Mansfield.
“This deliberate move led us to an older property in Mansfield, chosen for its ample storage capacity, particularly an expansive shed that now houses our beloved lights throughout the year.
“This strategic choice has not only optimised our storage solutions but also allowed us to dedicate more time and energy to curating a truly spectacular Christmas lights display.”
The couple start creating their display in September, “ensuring that every corner of my property will be transformed into a winter wonderland of enchantment”.
This year, their display features a life-size sleigh with reindeer, a giant teddy bear, Disney characters, Bluey and a menagerie of illuminated animals.
The Lehmanns moved from Coopers Plains to Mansfield to accommodate their Christmas lights display.
Where to see some of Brisbane’s best Christmas lights
It wouldn’t be Christmas in Brisbane without taking a stroll on a balmy night to check out the neighbourhood light displays. Here are some of the crowd favourites around the city.
North:
Three houses on Sugarloaf Street in Wavell Heights have synchronised music and Christmas lights.
Clark Terrace at Sandstone Point and Annie Street in Bracken Ridge also have multiple houses with displays.
Christmas lights on Clark Street in Sandstone Point.Credit: Christmas Light Search
South:
The display at 2 Brochet Street in Mansfield is a crowd favourite. But so too are displays at 101 Kempsie Road at Upper Mount Gravatt, and 242 Stanley Road at Carina.
East:
The residents of 19 Nemarra Street in Wynnum West claim they are the owners of the largest inflatable Santa in Australia. Their light display features snow machines, bubble machines, and a 10-metre-tall light tree.
Is this Australia’s largest inflatable Santa?Credit: Christmas Light Search
West:
It is rare to have nearly every house on one street decorated with lights for Christmas, but the residents of Everard Street and neighbouring Raeside Street in Westlake rise to the challenge.
The family at 20 Curragundi Road in Jindalee have been putting up Christmas lights for 23 years. Their multi-award-winning display features a 10-metre handmade train, Santa’s sleigh and a children’s maze.
The residents of 1 Moncrieff Court in Mount Ommaney have been delighting locals with their Christmas light display for years, but are hanging up their festive caps for good this year. Their final display features a snow machine and a handmade sleigh and reindeer.
Another highlight in the west is 71 McPherson Road in Sinnamon Park.
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