Giant Santa to return to Adelaide this Christmas thanks to businessman Lance Vater

The generosity of a millionaire has saved our iconic giant Santa from landfill – and now he’s destined to return to his favourite city perch for Christmas.

The generosity of a flamboyant Adelaide millionaire will see South Australia’s iconic giant Santa return to the city’s streets this Christmas.

Planning is well advanced to put the 15m-high fibreglass figure back on the Adelaide Central Market, where he spent several festive seasons before a forced retirement.

Santa’s impending comeback has been made possible by entrepreneur Lance Vater paying $40,000 at a charity auction last month for a dinner for 10 guests with Premier Peter Malinauskas.

The auction was part of a fundraising event at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre organised by media personality Andrew “Cosi” Costello.

The TV and breakfast radio host bought Santa off Adelaide City Council for $2 last December when it emerged he was destined for landfill.

Businessman Lance Vater and TV personality Cosi Costello in front of Santa's big black boots Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Costello since has devoted many hours to organising his restoration, installation and permanent, free storage.

“Six hundred people came to the fundraising event to help us get the money we needed to fix him up, put him back up for Christmas and get him into storage,” he said.

“When the auction for the dinner with Mali got to $10,000 the whole room went quiet, then it got to $20,000, $35,000 and then $39,000.

“Nobody said a word. It was completely silent. The auctioneer was about to hit his gavel and Lance shouted out $40,000. It was just incredible.”

Giant Santa in his former storage facility at Kilburn. Picture: Colin James

Mr Vater said he and his wife, Lissi Whyte, transferred the money to Costello two days later to ensure Santa was saved for future generations of South Australians.

“He is unique, there is nothing else like him anywhere in Australia, in the southern hemisphere” he said.

“It is all about us giving something back to the South Australia we both love.”

Asked who he was planning to take along to the fully-catered dinner with Mr Malinauskas at Costello’s house, Mr Vater said his wife was organising the guest list.

“They will be like-minded individuals who want to help make sure Santa stays with us for many years to come,” he said.

“Between my clients and colleagues, I am sure we can do it without having to spend much money.”

Giant Santa’s pigeon splattered torso in his former storage facility at Kilburn. Picture: Colin James

Costello said some of the money would go towards the continued restoration of 60-year-old Santa.

His big black boots already have been repainted, with further work scheduled on fixing up his very large head, chest and torso.

The makeover by Costello’s various elves will continue in earnest at the fibreglass, wooden and metal figure’s new North Pole workshop in Adelaide’s western suburbs.

Santa’s various components – and his obligatory large red sleigh – were moved on Thursday by a South Australian company, TRG Transport, to a facility owned by another Adelaide company, Bianco Concrete and Construction. Both have donated their services.

Santa has spent the past four years in a huge shed at Kilburn owned by civil construction giant, McMahon.

An important section of Giant Santa in his former storage facility at Kilburn. Picture: Colin James

The cost of keeping him in storage, plus the annual bill for his installation on Federal Hall at the Grote St entrance to the Central Market, were key factors in the council deciding to sell Santa to Costello for $2.

The council’s Adelaide Central Market Authority had inherited the figure from David Jones which, in turn, inherited him from John Martin’s.

Built in the 1960s, the big guy in the bright red suit spent many festive seasons on the Rundle Mall facades of the two department stores.

Costello, who grew up at Kadina on Yorke Peninsula, was among the tens of thousands of South Australian children who walked under the giant Santa on their way to sit on the knee of a more human version in the Magic Cave.

“Giant Santa was facing an one-way ride to Wingfield,” said Costello.

“I couldn’t let that happen. He’s been a huge part of Christmas for so many South Australian kids.”

Giant Santa on Federal Hall at Adelaide Central Market. Picture: Supplied

Costello said his “dream Christmas wish” was to be able to put Santa back on the heritage-listed Federation Hall.

“I’ve been talking to the council and the market authority about closing the road and having a street party so families can watch him go back up,” he said.

“There are still a few things to work through engineering-wise before we can make any final decisions or announcement.”

Costello said he wanted to install Santa in time for the Christmas Pageant, which is returning to city streets on Saturday, November 12, after being confined to Adelaide Oval by the pandemic.

“Ideally, I would love to be able to put him up on the Saturday before the pageant,” said Costello.

A council spokesman confirmed the fixings needed to mount Santa remained on Federal Hall.