Santa arrives in town as decorations light up CBD

CHRISTMAS has arrived in Ballarat with the launch of the municipality’s festive program and a visit from Santa.

Father Christmas was joined by deputy mayor Cr Ben Taylor and Bridge Mall traders to celebrate the launch last Friday.

Decorations within the mall include a four-metre long Merry Christmas Ballarat sign, a bauble bench, a five-metre-high Christmas tree, and bauble planter boxes.

Across the CBD there is also an archway of stars at the intersection of Doveton and Sturt Streets and a giant bauble in Queen Victoria Square, which all create a one-kilometre trail of decorations from Dawson Street South to the end of the Bridge Mall.

“It ties it straight down as a retail precinct which is wonderful for us,” Wendy McLachlan, Bridge Mall Business Association president, said.

This festive season will also see a Christmas in Ballarat art trail, Santa’s red telephone booth, and a Christmas tree in Sturt Street with decorations from local artists Kathy Holowko, Joel Hammonds, Melinda Muscat, and Caroline Keys.

There will be live music and roving entertainment in the CBD every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Friday 12 December.

“We’re building on what we’ve done in previous years and Christmas in Ballarat is exciting,” Cr Taylor said.

“People can actually start at the Bridge Mall, look at the beautiful five-metre Christmas tree… and then walk all the way up Sturt Street and see those baubles.”

This will be the Bridge Mall’s first festive season since the $23 million redevelopment and there will be a range of festive activities on offer.

The redevelopment of Norwich Plaza is expected to be completed in coming weeks.

“All the landscaping and the cars coming through has added a huge vibrancy to it,” Ms McLachlan said.

“It’s been a tough few years with the redevelopment, but we always knew it was going to be a positive outcome.”