By Carolyn Webb
They’re not dashing through the snow in sleighs in Melbourne’s south-east this Christmas, but locals have found unbridled joy in an equally novel transport mode.
They’re checking out the local Christmas lights from a two-horse open carriage.
Carriage owner Dean Crichton and assistant Shania Willemsen with customers Tracey Mallia (in peach top), her husband Tony Mallia, daughter Tanya Hilder and grandchildren Fletcher and Harper .Credit: Eddie Jim
Nightly tours, which leave from The Heritage shopping centre in Pakenham and wind through the suburb’s backstreets, have sold out in the lead-up to Christmas Day since they began seven years ago.
Up to eight people per carriage, from toddlers to great-grandparents, listen to Christmas carols as they glide past the decorated homes.
Each carriage is given lollies to throw to pedestrians. Tour company owner and driver Dean Crichton is amused to see signs being held up reading “throw me candy”.
Crichton, owner of Unique Carriage Hire – which also works at weddings and film shoots and offers tourist rides in central Melbourne – says his daughter, Jaime, had the idea to do Christmas lights rides in 2017.
The carriage rides go past the home of Kerryn and Shane Alabaster and son Chayce.Credit: Eddie Jim
Pakenham, which is near Crichton’s farm in Bunyip, has a growing number of homes with Christmas lights.
Crichton was initially sceptical, but was won over. “We were fully booked from the first year,” he said. “It just went crazy. It’s been very successful.”
The service initially operated for 10 nights leading up to Christmas, but it now runs for 20 nights, using three carriages on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and two carriages on other nights.
Rides cost $140 per carriage in daylight and $180 after dark. This year, the night rides sold out within a few days after going on sale in early November.
‘It’s a really good atmosphere to work in. It’s the best office in the country, I reckon.’
Carriage owner and driver Dean Crichton
Last week, Tracey Mallia, of Nar Nar Goon, took her fourth carriage ride with husband Tony Mallia, daughter Tanya Hilder and grandchildren Fletcher, 7, and Harper, 3.
“It’s a good way to see the lights, and everybody in the houses goes to such a lot of trouble,” Tracey said.
Greendale Boulevard resident Sarsha Wood said she and her husband, Adam, and son Zac, 10, enjoyed seeing the carriages pass. “I look forward to them every year,” Sarsha said.
The family love showing off their home, which is festooned with a giant Santa, a snowman, a polar bear, nutcrackers, and a fleet of reindeer on the roof.
House proud: Sarsha and Adam Wood, with son Zac, pictured in front of their home, which is on the carriage tour route.Credit: Eddie Jim
Their neighbour and “friendly rival” in Christmas lights, Shane Alabaster, said the carriages were a welcome sign that Christmas was coming. “The faces of kids light up when they see the lights,” he said.
Horse-drawn carriage rides in the city have drawn some criticism for alleged animal welfare issues in recent years.
Crichton said the 12 draught horses used for the Christmas lights tours were specially fed, trained and shod for the work, and four were used each night, spreading the load. The 12 would have only a few other jobs during the year.
“They have a very light workload,” he said.
Carriage owner Dean Crichton and assistant Shania Willemsen driving through the streets of Pakenham.Credit: Eddie Jim
Crichton said that when the last ride finished at 11.10pm on Christmas Eve, he and his staff would be ready for a break.
“We might only be on the street for four hours a night, but there’s the travelling to and from Pakenham, and shampooing the horses and caring [for] them at home. It’s a full day for us, and it’s 20 days in a row. It is quite taxing.
“I look forward to it doing it every year. It kick-starts Christmas for a lot of families. It’s a really good atmosphere to work in. It’s the best office in the country, I reckon.”
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