Its Christmas Day in Australia

A nativity scene made from, among other things, hay bales, sits outside a house in Tarrington, south-west Victoria

Broken Hill - Far Western NSW. Over 4,000 people set up their blankets and deck chairs on the lush green grass at Sturt Park as they sang the night away with renowned entertainer Marina Prior.

Shades of Cyclone Tracey, Christmas 1974, tropical cyclone Grant forms off the Northern Territory coast is expected hit the mainland later today.

 The famous Toompine Hotel (Pop. 2 - Yes!  That's TWO!) says it will serve Christmas lunch for residents from the surrounding district, including a few opal miners from nearby Duck Creek.

Forget the bull, as the town of Barmera, South  Australia, hosted its first Running of the Sheep.

Tasmanian church leaders have used their annual Christmas message to highlight the need to address issues regarding refugees.

A new calf, named Static, has joined the dolphins which regularly visit Monkey Mia beach, Western Australia.

The new Ker 40 AFR Midnight Rambler owned by Ed Psaltis, Bob Thomas and Michael Bencsik tunes up for the Boxing Day Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

Australia has decided to take just four genuine bowlers into the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against India with Shaun Marsh called up to the side ahead of all-rounder Dan Christian.

Santa comes in on the Karratha Volunteer Fire and Rescue Bedford truck for their annual lolly run in North-West Australia. (Cristy-Lee Macqueen - ABC local)

Karratha

Population:  11,728 (2006)  Established: 1960s Postcode: 6714

Coordinates:  20°44′11″S 116°50′47″E / 20.73649°S 116.84638°E / -20.73649; 116.84638

Time zone: AWST (UTC+8) Location:        1575 km (979 mi) from Perth

LGA: Shire of Roebourne State District:      North West

Federal Division:  Durack

Mean max temp 32.3 °C (90 °F)  Mean min temp 20.7 °C (69 °F)

Annual rainfall 271.7 mm (10.7 inches)

Sydney Town Hall dressed up in Christmas lights and a light projection display, Christmas 2011

Celebrating it’s 55th year and revisiting the 1957 theme of The Nutcracker, Myer’s Melbourne window display is predicted to receive over one million local and overseas visitors.

Myer's - "The Nutcracker" display 2011

Last, but by no means least, an Australian Christmas at the beach! (Beach images with thanks to A beach cottage - life by the sea blog )

And - A Bush Christmas Nativity Scene -

WHEN Betty Jenje arrived in Mount Isa well over 40 years from her native Holland, she had to get used to a different kind of Christmas. The weather was hot; the food was hardly festive.

But the final straw was no proper nativity scene at the front of the Good Shepherd Catholic Church.

"All the statues were damaged and the stable was this metal structure painted white and covered with Christmas wrapping," she snorted, disapproval still ringing through her strong Dutch accent. "And it was standing on the floor where no one could see it. I couldn't believe it; no Christmas at all!"

Or that is what it felt like to the young bride, fresh from an old European country where Christmas is celebrated for the whole month of December.

Betty and her husband Dick took over the Christmas decorations at the church. The statues have been lovingly restored and Australian animals and birds added to the group gathered around the manger.

"I knew how it was done in Holland, and I wanted to do something nice here for the church and for the congregation."

The final touches have been added with greenery brought in from the bush to adorn the stable.