By Danielle Kutchel
Residents in Casey and further afield often speak excitedly of “the house on the corner in Narre Warren”, so well-known has it become.
And for good reason – this is the Christmas house.
Brett and Sue Grinstead’s home has gained a reputation for being a particularly festive spot for a few weeks each year, as lights, fake snow and inflatable characters take over their yard to provide some seasonal cheer to passers-by.
The couple first began putting up lights from about 2005, although the size of their project has grown substantially over the last seven years.
It began with around a dozen bits and pieces, and now gets added to every year as Mr and Mrs Grinstead find new things to add.
Every year from the start of November, the pair begins setting up. It takes roughly three weeks of hard, solid work according to Mrs Grinstead, including after work each night and the weekends.
The decorations extend to the inside of the house too, with Christmas-themed curtains and a bright tree in the window.
They say the kids used to enjoy it before they left home, and now their grandson “goes nuts” over it, along with the neighbourhood kids.
A Facebook page started only recently has helped increase the family’s reach and popularity, with some visitors disclosing that they got the address from a retirement village in Ivanhoe.
The couple puts a jar out the front to collect donations for the Make a Wish Foundation, last year receiving over $2000 to give to the charity.
Mr Grinstead says people have asked why he doesn’t use the money to cover his own expenses for the lights – but the answer is, “I’m not fussed.”
“It’s a bit of fun!” he says.
The young visitors all get candy canes and glow sticks, and the Grinsteads find new exciting decorations to add each year.
A path takes guests through the garden and takes in all the best vantage points, and a fence protects the little ones from any tripping points.
There’s never any set plan for placement of each item though, Mr Grinstead says.
“We get the fence up and then whatever happens, happens,” he explains.
“From there we just stand back and say, ‘that’ll work!’” his wife adds.
Cookies, chocolates and Christmas cards have found their way into their letter box as thankyou gifts from delighted visitors.
And the couple says they have no plans to stop, seeing their decorations as “a bit of joy at the end of the year”.
“People say, ‘I know it’s that time of year when I start seeing those lights go up’,” Mr Grinstead says.
Visit the Grinstead family’s Christmas lights at 116 Langbourne Drive, Narre Warren, until Christmas night.
