John Martins | The Big Store

For a time, our team hesitated to acknowledge that this story primarily speaks to an older demographic. We’ve since realised that this is something to celebrate and not apologise for. John Martin’s | The Big Store offers a joyful trip down memory lane and a chance for older Australians to reconnect with the people, places, and stories that shaped their lives.
At its heart, this documentary explores how memory and change coexist. By understanding where we’ve come from, we can navigate where we’re going. By celebrating John Martin’s, we’re also reflecting on how communities evolve, how consumer culture shifts, and how we can embrace progress without losing sight of what gave us joy, connection, and pride. It’s a story that reminds us that nostalgia doesn’t mean resisting change, it means honouring the foundations that made change possible.

We envision a South Australia where older generations feel seen, heard, and valued, a place where the memories and cultural heritage of Adelaide’s past, especially embodied by John Martin’s, are preserved not as relics but as living touchstones that strengthen communal identity. By weaving together archival visuals, personal stories, and public heritage, we aim to foster empathy across generations, so younger people come to understand and appreciate the city-building experiences of those who came before. Our film will catalyse renewed community engagement: encouraging local institutions, educational systems and media to include and elevate the voices of older Australians, while also inspiring shared action to safeguard and celebrate our collective memory.

Through this documentary, we hope to create both individual and community change by exploring how collective memories shape identity and belonging. By revisiting the story of John Martin’s and its place in South Australian life, we aim to change attitudes and perspectives on nostalgia by moving it beyond simple sentimentality to a deeper reflection on progress, adaptation, and shared experience. The film will encourage audiences to celebrate what once was, while also helping people cope with and embrace change, seeing it as a natural and necessary part of growth. In capturing the heart and humour of those connected to “The Big Store,” we want to remind viewers that while places and traditions may evolve, the sense of community and connection they create can endure in new and meaningful ways.

Our team’s connection to the community is grounded in genuine, long-term engagement across generations. Through our work with Rembrandt Living, an aged care provider, we’ve built strong relationships with residents, families, and home care clients by listening to and sharing their stories with empathy and respect. This experience has deepened our understanding of memory, identity, and belonging, themes central to John Martin’s | The Big Store. At the other end of the spectrum, we are currently working with younger audiences through our Wine Australia Careers project, capturing stories of emerging talent and future industry leaders. This broad engagement across age groups gives our team unique insight and access to the communities whose lives were shaped by John Martin’s, ensuring a balance of reflection, optimism, and continuity in how the story is told.

Our call to action is simple: to encourage reflection, conversation, and connection. John Martin’s | The Big Store invites audiences to rethink nostalgia and not to frame it as sadness for what’s gone, but as a celebration of shared experiences that continue to shape us. The film asks viewers to embrace change rather than resist it, recognising that while places and traditions may fade, their meaning endures. We hope audiences will share their own memories, talk with family and friends about the role John Martin’s played in their lives, and rediscover pride in Adelaide’s history. Beyond remembering the past, we want people to see value in the present and to carry forward that same sense of community, creativity, and belonging that made “The Big Store” such a cherished part of South Australian life.