[Vella Gonzaga]

Christmas shopping in the city​

Credits: Facebook/Australia Remember When

Since the festive season is near, today's 'Yesterday's Australia' segment takes you back to the heart-warming memories of Christmas shopping in the city with Mum and Dad (and sometimes Grandma). In your Sunday best, you’d gaze at the sparkling Christmas decorations in David Jones, visit Father Christmas, and spend your hard-earned pocket money at Coles Cafeteria. Do you remember these cherished Christmas shopping traditions? Share your memories with us here.

 

[Suzanne rose]

I refuse to now go into the city during this time of year.

 

[Jarred Santos]

I refuse to now go into the city during this time of year.

Is it the crowd/s, @Suzanne rose? :O

 

[Suzanne rose]

Is it the crowd/s, @Suzanne rose? :O

After working in the city for 15 years and in busy George St in The Dymocks building, you get over it. I absolutely hate the city.

 

[Gsr]

We never had this opportunity as kids living in the sticks. I can remember the great joy we had in decorating our school classrooms, every room in our houses, verandah etc. we made cross over streamers with crepe paper, they were so pretty. We made paper chains with circles of different coloured paper which we cut and joined up with glue. We had a couple of paper lanterns which opened up and a couple of pieces of tinsel. Our Christmas tree was always a fresh one from up the bush, decorated with handmade streamers and a handmade star covered in foil. We saved gold and silver paper during the year if we had chocolate and used it to cover handmade stars. These were some of the most fun filled Christmas’s I can remember having. Big family gathering at our grandparents house on Christmas Day, life was so much simpler and less rushed back then.

 

[magpie1]

I remember going shopping with Mum when I was a young child, the trip into Melbourne CBD was always a big day.....first the long train trip in was so much fun, then arriving at Flinders Street and the walk to Bourke St to start shopping in Myers and Coles and McEwans Hardware, then it was off to Coles for lunch after the shopping, Mum always loved a pot of tea and Sandwiches and I always had a meat pie. After lunch we went to the pictures and watched a movie ( in colour ) and then back to Flinders St station and the trip home.....Christmas was a busy time at our house every year and will always remain in my fondest childhood memories.....Merry Christmas Mum, Dad, Bar (grandpa) all dec. ❤✝

 

[Suzanne rose]

I remember going shopping with Mum when I was a young child, the trip into Melbourne CBD was always a big day.....first the long train trip in was so much fun, then arriving at Flinders Street and the walk to Bourke St to start shopping in Myers and Coles and McEwans Hardware, then it was off to Coles for lunch after the shopping, Mum always loved a pot of tea and Sandwiches and I always had a meat pie. After lunch we went to the pictures and watched a movie ( in colour ) and then back to Flinders St station and the trip home.....Christmas was a busy time at our house every year and will always remain in my fondest childhood memories.....Merry Christmas Mum, Dad, Bar (grandpa) all dec. ❤✝

What beautiful memories from your childhood

 

[Suzanne rose]

We never had this opportunity as kids living in the sticks. I can remember the great joy we had in decorating our school classrooms, every room in our houses, verandah etc. we made cross over streamers with crepe paper, they were so pretty. We made paper chains with circles of different coloured paper which we cut and joined up with glue. We had a couple of paper lanterns which opened up and a couple of pieces of tinsel. Our Christmas tree was always a fresh one from up the bush, decorated with handmade streamers and a handmade star covered in foil. We saved gold and silver paper during the year if we had chocolate and used it to cover handmade stars. These were some of the most fun filled Christmas’s I can remember having. Big family gathering at our grandparents house on Christmas Day, life was so much simpler and less rushed back then.

I always say how life was much simpler 20,30,40 years ago.

I too remember making chains out of crepe paper and Angles . I don't think kids make decorations like that anymore

 

[magpie1]

I always say how life was much simpler 20,30,40 years ago.

I too remember making chains out of crepe paper and Angles . I don't think kids make decorations like that anymore

and we played outside a lot more and got down and dirty and laughed and had so much fun and so many adventures we experienced as kids.......

 

[Jarred Santos]

After working in the city for 15 years and in busy George St in The Dymocks building, you get over it. I absolutely hate the city.

Oh, you and my dad are alike in that! He also detests anything to do with the city and prefers a quiet life away from it!

We never had this opportunity as kids living in the sticks. I can remember the great joy we had in decorating our school classrooms, every room in our houses, verandah etc. we made cross over streamers with crepe paper, they were so pretty. We made paper chains with circles of different coloured paper which we cut and joined up with glue. We had a couple of paper lanterns which opened up and a couple of pieces of tinsel. Our Christmas tree was always a fresh one from up the bush, decorated with handmade streamers and a handmade star covered in foil. We saved gold and silver paper during the year if we had chocolate and used it to cover handmade stars. These were some of the most fun filled Christmas’s I can remember having. Big family gathering at our grandparents house on Christmas Day, life was so much simpler and less rushed back then.

I remember going shopping with Mum when I was a young child, the trip into Melbourne CBD was always a big day.....first the long train trip in was so much fun, then arriving at Flinders Street and the walk to Bourke St to start shopping in Myers and Coles and McEwans Hardware, then it was off to Coles for lunch after the shopping, Mum always loved a pot of tea and Sandwiches and I always had a meat pie. After lunch we went to the pictures and watched a movie ( in colour ) and then back to Flinders St station and the trip home.....Christmas was a busy time at our house every year and will always remain in my fondest childhood memories.....Merry Christmas Mum, Dad, Bar (grandpa) all dec. ❤✝

I always say how life was much simpler 20,30,40 years ago.

I too remember making chains out of crepe paper and Angles . I don't think kids make decorations like that anymore

and we played outside a lot more and got down and dirty and laughed and had so much fun and so many adventures we experienced as kids.......

What lovely memories! The decorating, the shopping... The only bad thing about those holiday trips was the sore feet after a full day tagging along with the parents

 

[Wandiwa]

We used to get about 100 Xmas cards from all over the world, we hung them on the kitchen wall using 3 lines of string each probably 4 metres long. I usually get 2 cards each year now.

 

[Jarred Santos]

We used to get about 100 Xmas cards from all over the world, we hung them on the kitchen wall using 3 lines of string each probably 4 metres long. I usually get 2 cards each year now.

Quite a nice way of giving the cards a twist instead of tucking them away someplace after reading Very crafty!

 

[PLK]

From the picture that has to be Melbourne and near Swanston Street. My kids were always taken to see the Myer Christmas windows in Melbourne CBD. Then on to Coles and the cafeteria and to the movies.

 

[Veggiepatch]

From the picture that has to be Melbourne and near Swanston Street. My kids were always taken to see the Myer Christmas windows in Melbourne CBD. Then on to Coles and the cafeteria and to the movies.

Wherever it is, the photo would been taken in the early to mid 1960s, looking at the Ford Anglia.

If it was taken in 2024, there would be multiple pedestrian deaths and injuries due to impatient idiots in their cars wanting be somewhere yesterday!

 

[Michelle Sc]

My first Christmas in Australia, working in the city was amazed to be given ( as were all the other employees male or female) an afternoon off by my employer to do my Xmas shopping