Meet Me at Johnnies! Celebrating The Hayward Years at John Martin's, is an exhibition that revisits the golden age of Adelaide retail and the department store that became synonymous with city life.
For much of the twentieth century, John Martin's Department Store stood at the centre of Adelaide's social and commercial life. More than a place to shop, it was where people gathered, met friends, marked special occasions and experienced the excitement of a growing and prosperous city. For many South Australians, a visit to "Johnnies" was a treasured ritual and a shared cultural experience.
This exhibition exploresthe remarkable connection between the Hayward family and John Martin's. Across four generations, members of the Hayward family played influential roles inshaping the business, helping guide the store through decades of growth, innovation and changing consumer expectations.
Through the story of the Hayward family and John Martin's, visitors are invited to reflect on an era when department stores were the beating heart of Australian cities. It was a time of elegant window displays, attentive customer service, Christmas traditions, charge accounts and the excitement of discovering the latest fashions, homewares and innovations under one roof.
Presented at CarrickHill, the former home of Sir Edward "Bill" Hayward and Ursula Hayward, this exhibition celebrates a defining chapter in South Australia's history. Rich with nostalgia and social history, Meet Me at Johnnies! captures the spirit of a retail institution that helped shape generations of Adelaide memories and left an enduring mark on the city's identity.
6th August - 31 October | Carrick Hill House Museum
This exhibition includes items generously loaned by SATC (Christmas Pageant), State Library of South Australia (with permission from David Jones Ltd) and private lenders.
Image courtesy of the State Library of South Australia with permission from David Jones Ltd.
