Gracelands Reminisce

Remember Gracelands on Violet Town Road, Belmont North?

One of our region’s outstanding Christmas displays. Here’s a few memories for you. Maybe you were there that night in December 2004.



Gracelands was a magic place. Children lucky enough to see it will carry those memories forever.

Below, yes, that’s a traffic jam in Violet Town Road. Our vehicle is parked two kilometres up the road.

Margaret and Allan Spence spent months planning and two weeks crafting each year's display, which began with about 50,000 individual lights and, finally, included more than 60,000.

The house interior was lit with scenery and displays, and the garage's snow vista had animated decorations and trains.

When the light show ended in 2006 with Mrs Spencer's ailing health, Hunter Valley Gardens bought the display, adding it to the Rose Garden and Sunken Garden, creating a half-million light extravaganza.

Failed pictures become.. ‘art’

The surreal arcade at "Gracelands”

More ‘art’

What was in that window? Snow vista with animated decorations and trains that, sadly, I was unable to capture due to the press of admirers. At right, kids have spotted something.


Ah, yes, Santa.

Down Camberwarra Drive

Of patient neighbours, some decided if you can't beat them..




Thank you, Margaret and Allan, for those wonderful years that will burn forever in the memories of we lucky ones who experienced your inspired and generous wonderland. You enriched the lives of so many.

And farewell, Gracelands ..



Click here to view the image above as an interactive panorama

Photographs were hand-held, low-resolution for a quick shutter, and the digital equivalent of forced exposure with an early model digital camera (2004). Some images are enhanced and unsightly artefacts brushed out.