Motorists travelling along the Midland Hwy at Girgarre East have no idea what they’re missing out on when they drive past Poole Rd.

Just off the highway sits Judy Buzza’s secret Christmas Village, a quirky, festive display made from repurposed materials she’s collected over the years.

Some of the stuff is up to 30 years old, some is from op shops, some is donated, and some is just from the side of the road having fallen from trucks.

Judy began putting the display together about three years ago, and hasn’t thrown anything out, but will add “little bits here and there”, making new sections of her growing village.

“It's made of junk ... old little things,” she said.

“It started with a gingerbread house because we did a little bit of home (renovations), and the packing boards looked like gingerbread.

“I have my basic things, and then I might do a different display to change it.

“It’s just grown ... it's just a little bit different (each year).”

An old truck tyre, a sheep trough and 52 Christmas trees are among the unique items in the display.

To create a winter wonderland Australia doesn’t see at Christmas time, Judy uses salvaged styrofoam collected from the side of the road to replicate white snow.

“A lot of the stuff besides farm junk has fallen off trucks and was on the highways,” she said.

“A VicRoads man stopped me one day ... I said, ‘I’m just cleaning up the highway.’”

The Christmas garden originally started as therapy for Judy, who was suffering from a painful autoimmune disease.

Slowly setting up the display since October has kept her moving and active.

“It was a full-body thing that hit me,” she said.

“I couldn’t exercise.

“I was virtually on all fours ... I had to keep moving.

“This has been my treatment.

“I just do it bit by bit.”

Judy said each year she had had more and more people come to have a look at the Christmas village.

Her display is usually the last stop for families touring the Christmas lights, because unlike other Christmas displays, children can get out of the car and interact with her display, which can be looked at during the day or night.

“What they do is go for a big drive ... stand at the fence, and they’re not allowed to touch,” she said.

“(Here) they can get out, run around and fall asleep by the time they get (home).”

Judy said she wanted the display to be made from repurposed items on a budget, because Christmas can be an expensive time.

“It’s amazing what people throw out,” she said.

“People always ask me, ‘How did you make that?’

“You’ve just got to have some imagination.”

You can find Judy’s secret Christmas Village at 640 Poole Rd, Girgarre East.

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Friday, 23rd January 2026

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