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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National
Phoebe Moloney

These frightening and fantastic photos from the Hunter Halloween house

Pictures: Marina Neil

What began as a Halloween-themed birthday party has devolved into a full-blown "obsession", taking over a Chisholm family's home for the fifth year running on Thursday night.

Each Halloween the Trevisanuts open their home to strangers to delight in the gruesome and fascinating scenes within.

Last year, their house was visited by 2000 people on Halloween, and this year Julie Trevisanut is hoping for more with an expanded display including a "skeleton graveyard", a "pumpkin hollow", a Harry Potter themed area, a zombie section and a creepy circus.

"It's a sign of madness, I think," she said.

She has warned that the zombie section is particularly gruesome.

"I think even adults are going to have nightmares," she said.

Ms Trevisanut said her interest in all things spooky began after she hosted a Halloween-themed birthday party for her husband about 15 years ago.

Now she is importing decorations months in advance from the US so she can surprise and shock visitors.

"I just love watching the community get together to laugh and cry and scream," she said. "I think because I like it other people like it too."

Ms Trevisanut sought sponsorship from her parent's business, Carpet One Thornton, as the event became more popular in order to fund some of the decorations, which she said cost between $15,000 and $20,000.

"There's animatronics, latex products, battery operated decorations and just static ones too."

She has strict rules about visiting times. Community members are welcome inside the property at 21 Arrowtail Street for three hours only between 4.30 and 7.30pm.

"Next year Halloween falls on a Saturday so we're thinking of having two sessions then," she said.

OH HEY: The Trevisanut's front yard. Picture: Facebook

Ms Trevisanut encourages her entire family to dress up but said that her nine-year-old son Blair is the most enthusiastic participant.

He will be donning a yellow raincoat to dress up as Georgie from It, and will be hanging out in the creepy clown section, no doubt.

  • Send your Halloween photos to news@theherald.com.au
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