by Janine Hill

THIS will be the last Christmas for a miniature village at Montville which will close to the public due to council rules. 

The Montville Christmas Wonderland, billed as the largest miniature display in the southern hemisphere, will be open to the public Friday and Saturday, 15 and 16 of December. 

Owner Graham Lumley said the miniature collection would then be available for sale, preferably as a whole.

Graham has decided to close and sell the once-a-year attraction because the Sunshine Coast Council says it does not fit the area’s zoning.

“The council basically told us we couldn’t do it. This is a rural zoned property and they said it falls outside what you’re supposed to do on a rural zoned property, and if we wanted to carry on, we’d have to change the zoning to tourist attraction,” he said.

After what he described as “a long-running discourse” with the council, he was given the option of making a material change of use application but decided not to risk the money.

Ironically, Graham brought council attention to his property while trying to make sure he was doing the right thing while opening his collection to the public as Christmas display once a year.

The Wonderland has continued to operate under an annual permit but Graham does not want to continue under such uncertainty.

He estimates his Christmas-themed collection, comprising hundreds of miniatures plus 150,000 lights, housed in a 280sq m shed, has cost about $200,000 to put together.

His penchant for Christmas began in Brisbane when he and a mate got competitive with Christmas lights.

“We used to decorate our house every year for the kids. When we moved up here, we took all the lights and built the display in the shed. 

“It used to take me five months to put it all up and pull it down again when it was outside. I’d start in June to have it done in November so I wanted to have it inside up here.”

Graham hopes to find a new owner with a big shed for the Wonderland and is willing to sell for less than he paid to a buyer willing to take on the lot.

“We are open on Sunday, 17 December for people interested in purchasing it to come and have a look and a chat but is not a ticketed day nor a day just for people to bring family for a look,” Graham said.

Admission to the last days of the Montville Christmas Wonderland is free but you must book a ticket online at  www.montvillechristmaswonderland.com.au.