Bunjil Place unveils community-led Christmas tree designed by local students

Bunjil Place enlisted some little ‘elves’ from Fountain Gate Primary School to help design this year’s Christmas Tree, turning their imaginative ideas into a design that captures the spirit of Christmas.

Situated in the outdoor Plaza beneath the impressive timber grid shell, Bunjil Place's Christmas Tree celebration has become a cherished tradition. Over the years, Bunjil Place has worked with different creatives to come up with the tree design ranging from visual artists to lighting designers.

“This year, we wanted a community-led tree and what better way to bring out the spirit of Christmas, than to bring the ideas of children to fruition,” said City of Casey Chair of Administrators Noelene Duff.

“Christmas looks different to everyone and is celebrated in all sorts of ways - something that can be interpreted in the children’s artworks.”

Teachers selected 23 students in grades three and four at Fountain Gate Primary School to partake in workshops led by the Bunjil Place team. These budding artists developed designs for the tree, its decorations, and even the tree topper. A creative collaboration ensued as Bunjil Place’s production designer Kirsten Macalpine melded the diverse designs into a cohesive masterpiece, considering elements like colour, scale and materials.

On Monday 4 December, the students involved visited Bunjil Place to witness their creations come to life. Amidst shouts of joy, the students identified their designs on the tree, with one expressing, "My Christmas wish was to get a World Cup, but it's on the tree, so my Christmas wish is complete."

Ms Duff added that the project has resulted in a student designed Christmas Tree that the Casey community can be proud of.

“The tree design shares what a section of our youngest community members think about Christmas time, and what this time means to them.

“The students were able to be part of a memorable experience that contributed to their development as artists and designers of the future. The creativity, thoughtfulness and consideration of the designs developed by students rivalled that of some design firms!”

You can check out the Christmas Tree for yourself at the Bunjil Place Plaza anytime until Monday 1 January 2024. The lights are turned on from 10.00 pm nightly.