Jeff Beatty is no stranger to the Mortlock Chamber at the State Library of South Australia.
For 12 years he was the library's storage officer and one of his favourite tasks to do each year was setting up the Christmas tree.
So much so, that since retiring in 2015, Mr Beatty has volunteered his time every year to join a crew from SA Power Networks to help assemble the tallest indoor Christmas tree in South Australia.
“I first put the tree up in 2006 and now love coming back every year since I retired to help the team to assemble it," Mr Beatty said
(pictured below).
"The Mortlock Chamber is such a picturesque location as well, I think it makes it even more magical."
The Christmas tree was first installed at the library in 2005, in the glass foyer where it stood for several years.
During the pandemic in 2020, the library's staff decided they wanted to bring some Christmas joy to the people of South Australia and decided to display the tree in the Mortlock Chamber.
“It is an incredibly enjoyable experience and I love to see the joy on the face of the people and children when they first walk in and see it," Mr Beatty said.
"I especially love bringing my two granddaughters to see it."
It takes five hours to assemble the 7m-tall tree, which stretches to the height of the first level of the Mortlock. It has more than 400 decorations and 11 sets of lights.
SA Power Networks (at the time known as ETSA), gifted the Christmas tree to the State Library of South Australia.
Anthony von der Borch, SA Power Networks Community Partnerships and Events Manager, said the team enjoyed playing a part in bringing Christmas cheer to SA.
“We have been proud to partner with the State Library over the last few years, by sending our team of expert crews down to install the state’s largest indoor Christmas tree,” Mr von der Borch said.
Visitors to the State Library will also be able to view an exhibition of key memorabilia from the National Pharmacies Adelaide Christmas Pageant, including mini-floats, costumes and artefacts.
State Library of South Australia Director Geoff Strempel said the items on loan from the Christmas Pageant, which included the beloved Nipper horse statue, allowed the library to create a "wonderous, nostalgic display that will delight Christmas lovers of all ages".
“It will also create a gorgeous backdrop, alongside our giant Christmas tree, for the extensive range of Christmas activities and events that we are thrilled to be offering to the public this festive season," Mr Strempel said.
Other activities include 'Santa the Curator' - a giant inflatable Father Christmas displayed in the library foyer as part of the City of Adelaide's Christmas Trail - as well as crafts, story time session and school choir performances.
The public is welcome to visit and take pictures with the tree during the library's opening hours, until Sunday 7 January.
For more information, visit Christmas at the Mortlock.
