RECYCLED CHRISTMAS Tells Melbourne's Christmas Story at Galleria

This festive season, Galleria, a bustling city corner of shops and eateries in the heart of Melbourne's CBD, is celebrating Christmas in a uniquely thoughtful and sustainable way.

Recycled Christmas decorations have been installed throughout the centre utilising reusable materials from retailers and cafés, as well as a giant Melbourne's Christmas Story book featuring rotating stories of goodwill from Foodbank Victoria, the Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation, Melbourne Animal Rescue and Waverley Industries.

Hide away from Christmas-shopping mayhem and discover simple ways to give back this festive season through free 'Lunch & Learn' sessions on Thursdays, 15 and 22 December, where Melburnians can listen to Melbourne's Christmas Story, learn about unique ways to give a gift to those less fortunate, and discover sustainable ways to celebrate Christmas.

Supporting small Australian business, the Galleria Christmas Market presented by Australian Wine and Food features bespoke food, spirits and wine from southern Australian producers. The market is on from 10am-3pm Thursdays andFridays until 16 December.

Interior space designer Steph Gooden of One68 recently completed furnishing the ambience upgrade of the centre's atrium food court. Taking inspiration from the design aesthetic of the new look, Steph designed the Recycled Christmas decorations and Melbourne's Christmas Story in consultation with Galleria.

"Australians are producing an increasing amount of waste, and are set to spend a record $48 billion on Christmas this year. So we thought of the idea to recycle reusable materials from our retailers for this year's Christmas decorations. We also wanted to invoke the Christmas spirit of goodwill, which is how Melbourne's Christmas Story eventuated," says Lisa Fleming, Galleria's Regional Centre Manager.

Steph Gooden creatEd Galleria's Christmas decorations using discarded newspapers from the building's offices, juice and speciality flavour bottles from the centre's many great cafés, as well as cardboard boxes from Cycles Galleria, The North Face and the newly opened Kathmandu, which is Australasia's first Green Star accredited retail store.

"Once we had finalised the design, we outsourced the wrapping of the decorative boxes to Waverley Industries; a not-for-profit organisation that provides employment for intellectually disabled adults," says Steph Gooden.

The 'Lunch & Learn' sessions are held in the quiet haven of Galleria's newly refurbished atrium food court in the heart of Melbourne's CBD, right opposite Bourke Street Mall. Quick and casual lunches can be purchased from neighbouring eateries such as Black Velvet Café, Kebab World, Tao Vietnamese, Menya Ramen, Famish'd, Oli & Levi, Boost, Thailander, and more. The Christmas markets from Australian Wine and Food will be held in the food court just in time for last minute gift purchasing.

For more information on Melbourne's Christmas Story visit galleria.com.au

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