Adelaide’s largest indoor Christmas tree has lit up for the first time on Pageant Day at the State Library of South Australia.
Located in the Mortlock Chamber, the 7-metre-tall Christmas tree was launched last Saturday (12 November) to coincide with the 2022 Christmas Pageant.
Powered by SA Power Networks, the giant Christmas tree stretches to the height of the first level of the Mortlock.
A traditional Christmas-themed display from the State Library’s Children’s Literature Research Collection and a book gifting partnership with the not-for-profit organisation Raising Literacy Australia, are among the key highlights of the library’s Christmas program.
Director of the State Library of South Australia, Geoff Strempel welcomed the tree saying Christmas at the Mortlock was a magical time of year to visit the State Library.
“We look forward to welcoming families to the Library to see the spectacular display in the Mortlock,” Mr Strempel said.
“This is a must-see experience for festive season lovers of all ages and we are delighted to create some holiday magic and spread the Christmas cheer once again,” he said..
“We are pleased to showcase a Christmas-themed display from our rich Children’s Literature Research Collection, which consists of over 70,000 items from around the world.”
He said the display reflects the themes of past Christmas traditions in different countries featuring traditional Christmas games, toys and books including a moveable pop-up book Father Christmas by Czechoslovakian paper artist Vojtěch Kubašta.
Mr Strempel said that as part of the Christmas tree display, the State Library of South Australia partnered with Raising Literacy Australia to support one of its vital early years literacy programs, Read to Me .
He said the library’s partnership with Raising Literacy Australia was built on its shared vision to tell stories that bring people together and promote literacy.
“We are calling on visitors to the State Library to help spread the Christmas cheer to vulnerable and disadvantaged children with the purchase of a book to support their literacy development,” Mr Srempel said.
He said the Christmas tree in the Mortlock Wing of the State Library of South Australia, on the corner of North Terrace and Kintore Avenue, would remain in place until Sunday 8 January.
More information about ‘Christmas at Mortlock’ can be accessed at this PS News link.
