Christmas comes but once a year, unless you live in Maldon, where every day is tinged with tinsel.
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Visitors can get their festive fix year-round here at Vanilla Spice, otherwise known as ‘the Christmas shop’.
Australia’s first notable town has long been known for its love affair with the season.
Vanilla Spice owner Leoni Norris has memories of taking her daughter to Maldon’s first Christmas-themed store, Calder Cottage, which enthralled visitors for over 20 years before its owner retired around 14 years ago.
“Six years ago we opened a gift store in Maldon with a little bit of Christmas stock,” Leoni says.
“We realised how well that was going so we decided to dedicate our shop to it.”
Today Vanilla Spice is a glorious explosion of Christmas colour, characters and carols on high rotation.
“For anyone who walks through the door, of any age, it makes them happy,” Leoni says.
“For elderly people it reminds them of childhood.”
Leoni stocks thousands of festival decorations, from $2 ornaments to $2,500 display pieces.
She sources designs from all over the world, as well as handmade ornaments from Tasmania, cards, cakes and knitted toys from Maldon locals.
The handmade elves from Spain are based on 400-year-old Norse mythology designs, their little faces being repeated for centuries.
Leoni says today’s trends lean towards pastels, as well as the traditional Christmas colours.
“And fun things – like the elves,” she says.
“People are looking to escape the seriousness of the world and I think a little bit of Christmas magic lets us do that.”
Leoni says while most people will start decorating on December 1, she has a growing number of die-hard collectors that can’t wait for then.
“I have some customers who put things up early November and don’t take them down until February so they can get the most out of their collection,” she says.
Leoni says her store is one of many independent boutiques which make historic Maldon a great day out for Christmas shopping.
Lauren Mitchell writes for Bendigo Regional Tourism.