At the Onehunga Fencibles and Historical Society, we decorate the blockhouse, Journey’s End, and Laishley House with decorations we’ve had in the cupboard for many years. According to our youngest member (born in 2009), historical is anything from before the year 2000. Going on that definition of historical, that includes our Christmas decorations.
The dining table in Laishely House is set for Christmas dinner with a white tablecloth and red placemats with beautiful red Christmas crackers on the plates. On the table is a small Christmas tree, a large Christmas cake, and a Christmas pudding.
Something you won’t see as a visitor is the inside of the papier-mâché Christmas pudding because our exhibits aren’t for playing with. This papier-mâché Christmas pudding was made for the Christmas display in November 1988. How do we know? The newspaper used to make it is dated November 10, 1988. The classified section of the Star newspaper was used to make the Christmas pudding, and it was shaped over a red plastic pudding bowl.
After 37 years of being used to decorate the Christmas table at Laishley House, the cream drizzle on the pudding is looking a little worn, but it’s not doing to bad for a historical decoration.
“Historical means anything from before 2000”
Teen member of Onehunga Fencible & Historical Society Inc.
If you would like to see our Christmas decorations in person, we’ll be open for the lighting of the Christmas lights at Onehunga Christmas in the Park on Friday 28th November from 7 to 8:45pm.
Regular open days in December are from 1:30pm-4pm on Sunday 7th and Sunday 21st December 2025
Leave a Reply