Facelift for The John Baptist Fountain |
What is thought to be the oldest locally made ornamental fountain in NSW and one of the oldest fountains in Australia is undergoing a makeover and its centerpiece is about to go on display in the Lost Gardens of Sydney exhibition at the Museum of Sydney.
"The John Baptist Fountain in Hyde Park is a rare and historic treasure, dating back to at least the early 1860s, and donated to the City in 1888 by prominent Sydney citizen John Baptist. Baptist had an award winning nursery in todays Surry Hills once regarded as the show-grounds of Sydney that attracted Sunday visitors in the days before public parks,"said CEO Monica Barone.
"Its one of the earliest surviving fountains installed in a garden anywhere in NSW and the Citys restoration program will ensure it remains an important reminder of the history of Hyde Park and Sydney."
Colleen Morris, garden heritage expert and curator of the Lost Gardens of Sydney exhibition has been working with the City of Sydney to research the significance of the fountain.
"Fountains were a popular feature of many gardens in the mid 1800s, and they were usually imported. While this fountain draws from traditional European design, what makes it so significant is that it was created and carved locally using local sandstone,"says Ms Morris.
The centerpiece of the John Baptist Fountain, featuring three carp on a sandstone coral base, has been carefully removed from the south-western corner of Hyde Park North (near the corner of Park and Elizabeth Streets), restored protected, and will now form part of the Lost Gardens of Sydney exhibition at the Museum of Sydney from 9 August until 30 November.
While the centrepiece is on exhibition, the City will restore and reconstruct the basin of the fountain and move it slightly to the south to protect the basin from damage by tree roots. The hydraulic system within the fountain will also be replaced and the intricate top section, which originally featured a shell or scalloped shaped bowl, will be recarved.
When the exhibition at the Museum of Sydney closes at the end of November, all elements will be brought together in Hyde Park as a working fountain again. These works are due for completion mid 2009.
"For more than 120 years, this fountain has provided an historic link for relatives of John Baptist and community groups interested in horticulture and garden history,"said Ms Barone.
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