Alexandra Fountain

Alexandra Fountain is regarded as one of Bendigo, Victoria, Australia's most prominent landmarks and monuments.[1]

Alexandra Fountain
View of Alexandra Fountain in Charing Cross, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
TypeFountain
LocationBendigo, Victoria, Australia
Coordinates36°45′35″S 144°16′42″E
Opened5 July 1881
Owned byCity of Greater Bendigo

The fountain is located in Bendigo's "Charing Cross", the intersection of View Street and Pall Mall. Charing Cross effectively stands at the centre of the city and is one of Bendigo's busiest and most prominent intersections. The fountain stands opposite to the main entrance of Rosalind Park.

Alexandra Fountain was funded from the proceeds of the Bendigo Juvenile Industrial Exhibition (1879), a £500 gift from George Lansell and a further £700 from the Sandhurst City Council (now the City of Greater Bendigo). The fountain was designed by William Charles Vahland (1828–1915),[2] a local architect responsible for some of the cities most prominent buildings.[3] The fountain was named in honour of Alexandra, Princess of Wales and the grand opening (5 July 1881) was attended by her sons Prince Albert and Prince George.[4]

Other than the Exhibition Fountain, built in 1880 and located in the Melbourne's Carlton Gardens, the Alexandra Fountain is the largest and most ornate municipal fountain in Victoria.[4] The fountain stands 28 feet (8.5 m) high and sits in a 50 feet (15 m) diameter circular pool which itself is 2 feet (0.61 m) deep. It is made from 20 tonnes (22 tons) of Harcourt granite, cast iron and painted stone. Decoratively the fountain includes lion head spouts, four allegorical female figures, spouted bronzed mer-horses and dolphins, medallions of seashells, dolphins and tridents also decorate the fountain. The pool is bordered by a decorative cast-iron fence and lit with four cast-iron lamps.[4]

Historically the fountain is a monument to the success of the Goldfields and the Bendigo region. Aesthetically the fountain is fairly typical of late Victorian monumental design but is unusual in that few fountains were built according to this theme.[4]

As of 2017 a AU$350,000 refurbishment project is underway. The restoration project will include repairs and repainting of the balustrade and masonry, including repainting and re-rendering the plaster work as well as plumbing and electrical work.[5]

References
  1. "GC20CQR Alexandra Fountain (Earthcache) in Victoria, Australia". Geocaching.com. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  2. "Alexandra Fountain - Bendigo, Victoria, Australia". Bendigo.ws. 22 September 2007. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  3. "William Charles Vahland - Bendigo Pioneer". Bendigo.ws. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  4. "Alexandra Fountain". Vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au. 30 July 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  5. "City set to commence restoration of historic Alexandra Fountain | City of Greater Bendigo". www.bendigo.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 13 November 2017.


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