Cosi’s Big Santa kicks off Christmas at Adelaide Central Markets

He’s the biggest Santa in the southern hemisphere and stands proudly over Grote Street which can mean only one thing – Christmas has arrived in South Australia.

Big Santa is back ho-ho-home at the Adelaide Central Markets, with the successful installation of the 15m tall, three-tonne figure signalling the start of Christmas in South Australia.

Media personality and proud owner Andrew “Cosi” Costello oversaw the erection at Federal Hall which he said marked the start of the festive season.

“Santa goes up one week before pageant. He’s a huge part of the fabric of South Australia and we didn’t want to see him go nor did the state,” he said.

Costello saved the big man in red from the scrap heap, buying the iconic statue from Adelaide City Council for $2 in 2021.

The council had paid $1 for him from John Martins where he had traditionally been installed since the 1960s.

He’s got the whole Christmas world in his hand.... Andrew 'Cosi' Costello outside the Central Market in Adelaide while Big Santa is being installed. Picture: Matt Loxton

But the negotiated price of $2 meant the council could report doubling the ratepayers’ investment, and Santa’s future secured.

“He’s not even really mine, I just bought him to give back to the state and it’s a pretty cool thing,” he said.

And with a cheeky dig at other “big things” in Adelaide mysteriously moving interstate, the South Aussie with Cosi host said Santa would always be a South Australian.

“Unless I got some massive lucrative offer from Victoria, maybe like the Grand Prix, the Santa will maybe one day be stolen to Melbourne.

“Nah – he’s here to stay. As long as I live he will always be put up somewhere around Adelaide.”

After a $35,000 makeover to shine the boots and buckles, the 62-year-old Big Santa was first installed at Federal Hall in 2022 – and it has been a tradition ever since.