“Remember that was the ’80s, and before the internet everything blew us away,” he said. “It was so magical to see the windows, and then we’d do our Christmas shopping and we’d catch the train back out to Glen Waverley. So to be part of it – to come full circle – it’s actually quite special.”
The Christmas window unveiling was a welcome bright spot for Myer executive chairwoman Olivia Wirth after the department store group reported a 30 per cent fall in net profit to $36.8 million for the year to July 2025.
Santa’s mail room, made entirely from Lego. Credit: Joe Armao
“We’re in the middle of a really broad transformation of the overall business,” Wirth said. “That includes bringing in the right products, overhauling women’s apparel, bringing some more excitement and theatre in stores and investing in the stores.”
Wirth would not disclose how much the windows cost Myer to build but said they were expected to bring more than 2 million people to the Bourke Street store.
Wirth will be hoping they then head straight to the department store’s Lego section.
Last year, the unveiling of the Myer Christmas windows was cancelled because of a planned protest about the war in Gaza.
Olivia Wirth, executive chair and chief executive of the Myer Group, at the Christmas windows unveiling.Credit: Joe Armao
Wirth said there had been an impact on the city’s retail trade over the past 12 months as a result of the protests.
“We’re very focused on ‘how do you bring people back in?’ How do they feel safe to come back in?” she said.
Wirth said Myer had been talking to the Allan government and Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece to ensure the city was a place where people felt safe.
“You speak to any retailer that’s operating in the Melbourne CBD, and they’ll be telling you the same thing,” she said. “It’s been tough, and we need to work out ways that you can bring people in. And frankly, it’s activities like this which will help rejuvenate the city centre.”
Santa and his elves were on hand to unveil the windows. Credit: Joe Armao
The City of Melbourne is also getting ready to put out its Christmas decorations. Federation Square will become Christmas Square, featuring a 17.5 metre tree covered in 110,000 lights.
Melbourne’s streets and laneways will be adorned with more than 650 Christmas decorations, including a new 60 metre, 25,000 light display above Bourke Street Mall and festive installations on landmarks like Evan Walker Bridge and Melbourne Town Hall.
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Camilla McCombe, 10, was one of the first children to get a close-up of the windows with her brother, five-year-old Hamish.
“I really like the windows,” she said. “It makes me happy because it’s so beautiful. I think they’re really creative and I like the theme.”
“The elves look good,” Hamish said. “I’ve got so much Lego [at home].”
The Myer Christmas windows will be open from Saturday, November 8.
