The heart of the City of Stirling has been magically transformed for the festive season, with the newly upgraded Civic Centre forecourt on Cedric Street now shining as a spectacular Christmas wonderland.
A Community Hub Aglow with Festive Spirit
Giant decorations have taken over the space, featuring a vibrant red-and-white walk-through Christmas tree, interactive photo opportunities, and hundreds of twinkling lights. The display marks the first major public event held in the forecourt since it completed an $850,000 nature-inspired makeover earlier this year. Mayor Mark Irwin officially launched the Christmas lights last Sunday, emphasising the event's role in bringing people together.
"This is about bringing people together to share in the magic of Christmas," Mr Irwin said. "We want to give our residents a place where they can gather and celebrate the festive season with their community."
Local Art and Lights Take Centre Stage
A truly special highlight of the display is the animated artwork created by 240 students from West Balcatta Primary School, from pre-primary through to Year 4. Their visions of what Christmas means to them are projected onto the side of the Council Chambers, adding a deeply personal and local touch.
Even the forecourt's iconic 10-metre-tall statue, Lina, created by WA artist Tony Jones, has joined the festivities, adorned with lights and sporting a Santa hat. The feature lighting illuminating her is part of the recent forecourt upgrade, which also included planting native species, creating new seating from retained concrete, and installing a yarning circle designed by Noongar artists.
Plan Your Festive Visit
The Christmas lights will sparkle every evening from 7:00 PM until 10:00 PM, running until Saturday, 28 December. To complement the visual feast, Stirling Street Food Saturdays will bring food trucks to the forecourt from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM on December 6, 13, and 20.
Mayor Irwin praised the versatility of the upgraded space, noting the Christmas lights showcase its potential as a community focal point. "The forecourt upgrade has created a much greener, cooler and more interesting space," he said. "Already, with the Stirling Christmas Lights, we can see how much more versatile the forecourt is and the opportunities it presents."
