To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Sydney Temple Christmas Lights display, a unique international exhibition, including the works of Bloch, Hoffman and Anderson, is now on display at historic Buckland House in Carlingford, now owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The exhibition, valued at tens of thousands of dollars, features world famous paintings of the life of Christ, from before his birth to his Second Coming.
This rare opportunity for the people of Sydney's north-west to view fine art reproductions of world-renowned paintings has been arranged by the Church and is a free event for all members of the family.
"We encourage all to come to Carlingford to take a tour through the exhibition as well as wander around the grounds to view the Christmas lighting displays," says Debbie Gardner, the event's curator. "This is the perfect opportunity to remember what's truly important at Christmas."
The exhibition, located at the corner of Pennant Hills Road and Moseley Street, Carlingford, will be open from 5-9pm Monday to Thursday and Friday to Sunday from 5-10pm. Guests will also be welcome to view Christmas nativity movies in a room adjacent to the exhibition. The paintings will be on display until 24th December. The Christmas lights will continue to be displayed until 2nd January.
Films of Christmas concerts featuring the Mormon Tabernacle Choir will be shown at the outside cinema on the lawns adjacent to Buckland House throughout December commencing each night at 8 pm. On Saturday and Sunday, 18th-19th December a Christmas Carols by Candlelight will be presented. The one-and-half-hour show starts 8:00 pm.
In 20 years, what has come to be known as Temple Hill, has been transformed from its former role as an orphanage to award-winning gardens, well-loved Christmas lighting displays and a large Nativity Scene, all part of the Australian Administrative Offices of the Church. At Christmas, the grounds become one of the most well-known of Sydney's various Christmas attractions.
Workers and volunteers are operating around the clock to weave the massive amount of lights amongst the tall eucalypts and intricate hedges to make it a memorable sight for all who come. The legacy of Christian service will continue as volunteers guide guests through the new art exhibition.
For many years Buckland House was part of an Anglican orphanage and was home to hundreds of young men who had lost their parents. The Church purchased the property in the early 1980s.