By all accounts the Saunders family generously opened their home Springfield in the late 1800s and the early twentieth century. George Saunders and his wife Elizabeth were from rural backgrounds – George came from the small village of Whitwell in Hertfordshire, England and Elizabeth was a farmer’s daughter from Cappyroe, Offaly, Ireland. They carried the hospitality of rustic life learnt in their homelands to Springfield, hosting such activities as a New Year’s Eve 1891 house party for thirty guests.

Modern Saunders Beach unknowingly carried on this tradition when the Saunders Beach rural fire brigade put on the first kids’ Christmas Party on the beach at the northern end of Reef Street in 1990.

1990 Tug-of-war.

1990 Reef Street car park (now Saunders Park).

1991

NanKivell Park

In NanKivell Park

Christmas raffle

Santa arriving

On Christmas morning Santa travels around the streets of Saunders Beach handing out drinks and lollies.

1992

Santa distributing presents. A couple of weeks before the day parents pay a nominal amount for these.

NanKivell Park again

1993

1994

Santa’s helpers

Cay Street car park

1995

1995 A magician

1998

Santa in the shade

A Christmas cake

2000

Reef Street car park

2006 Carols were held in the Saunders Beach Community Centre hall,

and then

2008

2015

Beaches Church band and singers and the volunteers from the Saunders Beach Community Centre staged an amazing Carols by Candlelight.

Multi-coloured lamingtons

In Saunders Park. Over the years the kids’ Christmas celebrations have been run by both the Fire Brigade and the Community Centre committee.

2015 Santa in Reef St Christmas morning.

The route that Santa took on Christmas morning 2015 is at https://www.facebook.com/SaundersBeach/photos/a.280630193153.185934.100258748153/10154385132083154/?type=3&theatre

All these photos (except 2015) are from albums thoughtfully left in the care of the Community Centre by departing locals.

Do you have any more photos or memories of these events? Saunders Beach History Project would love to hear from you via a comment below or email to saundersbeachhistoryproject@yahoo.com