Big Santa to be spruced up for return to Adelaide CBD this Christmas

Big Santa has been found alive and reasonably well in a northern warehouse. Now he is going to be fixed up in time for a Christmas comeback.

Adelaide’s iconic Big Santa will be spruced up in time for a return to the city this Christmas.

Media personality Andrew “Cosi” Costello is organising a working bee to repair the giant fibreglass, metal and wooden structure.

Mr Costello has inspected Big Santa at a warehouse at Dry Creek, where the 16.4m-tall, three tonne figure has been stored since his retirement in 2018 because of wear and tear.

Big Santa’s future is discussed at Dry Creek. Picture: Supplied

“The big guy is in surprisingly good nick,” he said.

“He needs a bit of paint and a few repairs but he should be fine to hang up again in the city this Christmas.”

Mr Costello said various tradesmen and companies had offered to donate labour and materials to help fix Big Santa, which he bought for $2 from Adelaide City Council.

The council had tried to off load the 60-year-old figure to the History Trust of SA but the offer was rejected when an inspection found he required too much work.

Big Santa on Federation Hall at the Adelaide Central Market in 2018. Picture: Supplied

Mr Costello then offered to buy it, with councillors voting for him to work with Christmas pageant sponsors National Pharmacies to return him to the city.

“Its not going to cost as much to get him back into shape as we first thought,” he said.

“We are going to have a working bee in April and then we are looking at having a fundraiser in July to get the money to erect him somewhere in the city.”

A council report said it cost ratepayers $83,798 for road closures, crane hire and rigging when the sculpture was last put up and taken down from the Adelaide Central Market in 2018.

A further $10,000 was spent on storage.