By JONATHON HOWARD
FOR the past 16 years Barbara and Graeme Sambell have spent October and November preparing their epic Christmas display at their Sunrise Beach home on the corner of Boxsell Rise and Wollomia Way.
The decorations comprise incredible hand-made tapestries, delicate ornaments, extraordinary window displays and thousands of twinkling lights in their front yard.
Their home truly embodies the spirit of Christmas and like previous years is expected to attract a large crowd on Christmas Eve, Wednesday 24 December – for Santa’s pre-Christmas visit.
Stories from the Sambell’s Christmas House date back a generation with visits from families who were once youngsters peering through the same windows at whimsical displays.
Both in their seventies, Mr Sambell said the couple knew each other as kids and both had admired Christmas displays.
“We both grew up visiting the city in Melbourne to see the window displays at Myer,” he said.
Mrs Sambell said they loved Christmas and enjoyed seeing people’s reactions to their displays.
Their latest creations are often kept under tight wraps to avoid spoiling the surprise.
“We’re known as the ‘Christmas House’ and each year we see a lot of the same people return to see what we’ve created,” she said.
The Christmas House has become so well known the couple even has a fan base overseas.
“We often receive Christmas cards and photos from overseas visitors and we’ve even got an original letter from Santa in Iceland,” Mrs Sambell said.
The family were shocked last year when they had a tub of electrical supplies stolen.
“It was a bit of shock that someone would steal a tub of supplies,” Mr Sambell said.
“But we’ve come back stronger this year.”
This year the Sambell’s are also fundraising to help Petra and Jack Geitl save for an accessibility vehicle.
Residents are welcome to visit the Christmas House on the corner of Boxsell Rise and Wollomia Way on Christmas Eve from 5pm.
Donations are welcome.
