Epicure's Gingerbread Village Vanishes from the Australian Scene

Buzz

Ngày cập nhật gần nhất: 15/4/2026

Content

Epicure's Gingerbread Village Vanishes from the Australian Scene

The mysteries surrounding the disappearance of Epicure's iconic gingerbread village, a Christmas staple for 11 years, remain shrouded in secrecy.

Epicure's Gingerbread Village Vanishes from the Australian Scene

The gingerbread village was established in 2010. Each year, a team of chefs and volunteers from the Epicure food supply group worked tirelessly from Melbourne Cup Day until the end of November to bake gingerbread and construct the village.

The gingerbread village boasts 600 kg of gingerbread, 460 kg of frosting, 200 kg of almond paste, and around 900 small pine trees. The gingerbread depicts Melbourne's landmarks, including Flinders Street Station, Melbourne Zoo, MCG, Arts Centre, Luna Park, St Kilda Beach, Grand Prix, Royal Children's Hospital, and Flemington Racecourse.

Nearly 1,000 small sculptures, featuring penguins, snowmen, sumo wrestlers, and soccer players, stand within the walls of the village.

The entrance fee for the village has been redirected to the Royal Children's Hospital, raising over $135,000 in donations over the years. Deniz Karaca, former pastry chef at Epicure, mentioned that annually, he leads a team of 2 chefs and 30 volunteers to 'revamp' the village.

Karaca also shared that the long lines of people queuing for the village tour used to extend beyond the door, prompting the city of Melbourne to provide security personnel to manage the crowds.

Initially, the city provided a venue for the gingerbread village at the Melbourne Town Hall. However, in recent years, the village has been exhibited in various locations, including the Emporium shopping center last year.

Mayor Sally Capp noted that this gingerbread village is a special attraction in the city of Melbourne. 'You can really spend hours here searching for unique, interesting, and fabulous things,' she said at the time.

Vicinity, the company operating Emporium, provided a venue for the village this year for free but did not receive feedback. The mayor and a spokesperson for the city of Melbourne declined to comment on why the gingerbread village is not on display this year.

Sue Hunt, the CEO of the Royal Children's Hospital, also mentioned that this village is a 'much-loved tradition' aimed at fundraising for the patients.

Monster Theo

***

Reference: Travel guide Mytour

MytourDecember 22, 2022

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the history behind Epicure's Gingerbread Village and how long has it been a Melbourne Christmas tradition?

Epicure's Gingerbread Village was established in 2010 and became a Christmas staple for 11 years. Each year, it featured Melbourne's landmarks made from gingerbread and raised over $135,000 for the Royal Children's Hospital.

Why did the gingerbread village no longer appear in Melbourne this year?

The reasons behind the gingerbread village’s disappearance this year remain unclear. Both the Mayor of Melbourne and the city's spokesperson declined to comment on the matter, and Vicinity did not provide feedback after hosting the village.

How much gingerbread and other materials were used to create Epicure's Gingerbread Village?

Epicure's Gingerbread Village used 600 kg of gingerbread, 460 kg of frosting, 200 kg of almond paste, and around 900 small pine trees, with 1,000 small sculptures, including penguins, snowmen, and soccer players.

Where was the Epicure Gingerbread Village displayed in recent years?

In recent years, the gingerbread village was exhibited at various locations, including Melbourne Town Hall and Emporium shopping center, with the latter hosting it for free last year.

How did Epicure’s Gingerbread Village contribute to fundraising for the Royal Children's Hospital?

The gingerbread village's entrance fees were redirected to the Royal Children's Hospital, raising over $135,000 in donations over the years, supporting vital programs for the hospital’s patients.

Mytour's content is for customer care and travel encouragement only, and we are not responsible.

For errors or inappropriate content, please contact us at: [email protected]