Say the words “Meet me at Johnnies” to anyone who grew up in Adelaide, and watch what happens. Eyes brighten. Stories tumble out. The Christmas windows. The Magic Cave. The tearoom where mothers ordered pots of tea while children fidgeted in their Sunday best.
For much of the twentieth century, John Martin’s Department Store stood at the heart of Adelaide’s social and commercial life. It was where you bought your wedding dress, your first grown-up suit, your child’s school uniform. It was where you met friends before the pictures, where you celebrated milestones, where the city itself seemed to come alive each November with the arrival of the Christmas Pageant.
Now, a new exhibition at Carrick Hill invites South Australians to step back into that golden era. Meet Me at Johnnies! Celebrating The Hayward Years at John Martin’s opens on 6 August and runs until 31 October, exploring the remarkable connection between the store and the family whose home Carrick Hill once was.
Four generations of retail history
The Hayward name runs through John Martin’s like a golden thread. Across four generations, members of the family played influential roles in shaping the business, guiding the store through decades of growth, innovation and the ever-shifting expectations of Adelaide shoppers.
Sir Edward “Bill” Hayward and his wife Ursula built Carrick Hill in the 1930s, creating the gracious estate that now serves as one of Adelaide’s most treasured heritage properties. The choice of venue for this exhibition is no coincidence. Walking through the rooms where the Haywards once entertained, visitors can trace the personal story behind the retail empire.
The exhibition draws on items loaned by the South Australian Tourism Commission (custodians of the Christmas Pageant), the State Library of South Australia, and private collectors. Together, they paint a picture of an era when department stores were the beating heart of Australian cities.
More than just shopping
To understand what John Martin’s meant to Adelaide, you have to understand what department stores once were. They were destinations, not errands. The elegant window displays were events in themselves, drawing crowds who came simply to admire the artistry. The customer service was personal and attentive. Charge accounts meant relationships that lasted decades.
There was the thrill of discovery: the latest fashions from abroad, innovative homewares, seasonal collections that marked the turning of the year. Christmas, of course, held a special magic. The Pageant wound through the city streets, ending at the store. Children queued for the Magic Cave, where Santa held court amid mechanical wonders.
For many South Australians, these weren’t just shopping trips. They were rituals, shared across generations. The memories formed at Johnnies became part of how families told their own stories.
Nipper and Nimble return
Visitors to Carrick Hill during the exhibition will have an extra treat: the chance to meet Nipper and Nimble, the beloved horses who brought joy to generations of children in the Magic Cave each Christmas. The horses will be stabled at Carrick Hill for the duration, with separate ticketed sessions available.
A word for those planning a visit: tickets to meet Nipper and Nimble must be purchased separately from exhibition admission. Check the Carrick Hill website for session times and bookings.
If you go
What: Meet Me at Johnnies! Celebrating The Hayward Years at John Martin’s
When: Wednesday 6 August to Friday 31 October 2025
Where: Carrick Hill House Museum, Springfield
Tickets: Visit the Carrick Hill website for admission prices and to book tickets for Nipper and Nimble sessions – carrickhill.sa.gov.au
For those who remember the bustle of Rundle Street, the scent of the perfume counter, the anticipation of Christmas displays unveiled, this exhibition offers something rare: a chance to revisit a chapter of Adelaide life that shaped who we are. And for those who never experienced Johnnies in its heyday, it offers a window into why so many South Australians still speak of it with such fondness.
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