It’s the stuff dreams are made of – Christmas all year round. For one Queensland family and all who visit their farm, that’s the reality. 20 acres of perfectly formed Christmas trees, the decorations to adorn them – and for those wanting a little more – you can even indulge in one of their famous hot chocolates. If it sounds magical, that’s exactly what the owners had in mind. Let’s meet the family sprinkling that Christmas spirit almost 12 months of the year, Katrina and Brad Fraser of Granite Belt Christmas Farm have put everything they have into their festive business.
On the property, where apple trees and cattle once dominated, pine trees now grow in abundance. Where customers browse for their festive decorations, was once an apple shed. “Out in the paddocks when I’m cruising around on the mower or tractor, you can still feel all the little humps where the trees used to be in their rows,” Brad recalls.
The leap into Christmas was born from Katrina wanting to be a stay-at-home mum. “Hubby was like, if you want to stay at home, you’ve got to do something. Get creative,” Katrina laughs. Whilst she does spend an awful lot of time at home – there’s no down time.
“The dream came true but along with a hell of a lot of work.”
The business is open 10 months of the year, covering Christmas, Easter, Christmas in July and any other holidays customers choose to mark. But peak time kicks off the week before December, so everyone can bring home their personally selected tree by December 1st.
“We’ve got measuring poles there with prices per foot. They wander through the paddock and find the tree they love.”
Growing the perfect pine tree requires a lot of knowledge – biology, fertiliser, climate, moisture and plenty or pruning. “They’re all done by hand. All pruned by hand,” Brad says. While Brad is busy with the physical work, the retail side is Katrina’s speciality. During the couple of months a year that the business closes to the public, she’s travelling to source the most beautiful décor in the world. “We try to hold the best there is. Just classy, long lasting, really good pieces.”
The Frasers say often, the same families show up year after year. The tree is a means to make memories. “It starts with the road trip. It’s getting there. It’s finding the tree together. Having the fun,” Brad explains.
The Granite Belt in south-east Queensland does cold climate fun, just as well as the summer holidays. The area is popular for its log-cabins and wineries. Brad and Katrina are only too happy to add to the vibe with an always sold-out Christmas in July lunch, Santa photos, farm animals and their famous hot chocolate. “It’s just the vibe. It’s the closest thing you’re going to get to a winter Christmas and I think that’s why everyone loves it,” says Katrina.
“The more you’re going to put your heart and soul into something, you’ve got to believe in it. And that’s what we did.”
And they’re putting their heart and soul into making lasting memories for countless other families as well.
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