Travellers passing through the small community of Bugaldie are pulling up to pose with a giant Santa

As Christmas fast approaches, a local resident has got creative and installed the eye-catching round hay-bale work of art outside the Bugaldie Memorial Hall facing the Coonabarabran Road.

Made by Jess Taylor, Bugaldie’s big Santa weighs more than a tonne and stands well over two metres tall.  

The giant jolly red elf has become a local talking point and a ‘must-stop’ for travellers, who are pulling over to take photographs.

“I am not at all artistic and I did not have a pattern; it is all free-hand,” Jess said. “I thought it would be a nice feature decoration for the Bugaldie Hall Christmas party and appropriate for the harvest, which looks like it could go on for a while.

“I did make one at home last year, but this is first time out in public at the Bugaldie Hall.”

Jess got her husband Rob to deliver the two bales to the ‘Santa site’ and secure them safely. 

She says it took her less than an hour using cans of spray paint to decorate and its possible that the giant installation might become an annual feature.

“It has generated so much interest that I am now thinking of doing another one next year and perhaps adding a few of Santa’s well-known friends!” Jess concluded.

And what will happen to big Santa after Christmas?   

Jess says the hay will probably end up being animal feed, making it the all-round perfect environmentally friendly Christmas decoration.

Locals will gather at the annual Bugaldie Hall Christmas party tonight, Saturday 17 December.