The Magic Cave

Father Christmas is a combination of differing legends and mythological creatures. It is believed his permanent home is in Lapland Korvatunuri ‘Ear fell’, sited on Finland’s Eastern frontier. The land resembles a Hare’s ear providing an echo chamber where children’s voices can be heard registering important messages to Father Christmas, St Nicholas, Sanct Herr Cholas or Sinter Klaas, bonhomme Noel, Pere Noel Jultomen, Julemanden, Chriskindel, Pere Noel, Santa Claus or Fwarda Cwismus.

Confirmation of Santa’s permanent home, in a snow-bound country, was given by the timely poem, ‘A visit of Saint Nicholas’ by Professor Clement C Moore. Cartoon artist, Thomas Nast, influenced by his German heritage, supported the image of a snow-bound home far out of reach of small children.

During the mid 1800s, severe and rampant childhood diseases, causing a large number of infantile deaths, greatly disturbed the community in the fledgling city of Adelaide. The very stressful period for South Australians was buffered by the hand of friendship to his community from a successful, shy and humble businessman.

Mr Edward Waterfield Hayward, owner and Director of John Martin & Company Limited cleared the packing boxes from a small basement storage area of his Emporium to convert the room into a magical place for children to visit and enjoy.

A holiday home in the Southern Hemisphere for Father Christmas opened on the 14 November 1896. Mysteriously, each year, Father Christmas arrived in Adelaide and took up residence in the Magic Cave; meeting and talking with the children until Christmas Eve. The Magic Cave is believed to be a world first and an original idea of Mr E.W. Hayward. After his death in 1903, his youngest son, Mr Edwyn Walton Hayward developed the artful Magic Cave into a city playground for boys and girls. One hundred and thirteen years later families continue the tradition of visiting the Magic Cave.

The brilliant example of the community minded Christmas charity captured the spontaneous fun and gaiety of a community at play, making glad the hearts of small children.

Today, David Jones (Australia) owns the Magic Cave copyright to become the David Jones Magic Cave which remains on the original site since its inception in 1896. The forming of a unique partnership between the SA Tourism Commission, the sponsoring credit unions of the Credit Union Pageant Company, Savings & Loans, Australian Central, CPS Australia, Police, Powerstate and Satisfac and David Jones (Australia) has preserved the two dove-tailed charitable gifts for children.