House of Christmas

Christmas and all its decorations and fanfare brings joy to many people who thrive on decorating their homes and Sue Van Heurck of Thorpdale is no different. “I’ve always loved Christmas,” Sue said. “I know it’s a busy time of year but people get together and it’s time to catch up with friends or family, or whoever is important for you. And I really like that.”

Sue said she was brought up in a traditional family and loved Christmas.

“I love the carols, and I just enjoy sharing that with other people,” she said.

Each year Sue opens her house and for a modest entry fee she raises funds for another of her passions – her Thorpy Hopes Relay for Life team raising funds for Cancer Council Victoria.

Sue has been collecting thousands of Christmas figures and ornaments from around Australia and overseas for almost 30 years, and displays them each year in what she calls her Christmas Wonderland.

“I started collecting in the early 90s when we lived in America for a while, and over there there are so many Christmas decorations that it just made me think this is something I really want to do,” Sue said.

Sue’s Christmas Wonderland has Santas of all kinds, reindeer, snowmen, angels, toys, trees... such diverse variety that you would have to see to believe.

The annual Christmas open house idea began in 2012.

“Because I get new pieces each year, I change the way everything’s displayed.

“I have different areas, like I’ve got a little country area and an Australian area and a ‘Christmas in the snow’ theme…all different bits and pieces.”

The traffic-stopper on the back roads of Thorpdale attracts hundreds of visitors each year and did so again when the annual open day was held on the weekend.

“If they’ve never been before they usually walk through the front door and their mouth opens and they just go ‘oh my goodness’ or ‘I can’t believe this’ .. always smiles on people’s faces and I love that.

“It brings memories to people and they’ll tell me about their Christmases or what they did when they were children. It’s really, really wonderful,” Sue said.