Sunday 13 January 2013

Elizabeth Bay, Beare Park, drinking fountain

This canopy drinking fountain is located in Beare Park, in the eastern suburb of Elizabeth Bay. It was one of eight highly ornamental drinking fountains brought to Sydney from Glasgow in 1870 but not all of them remain. It features an open bible with the versefrom John 4: 13-14: "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst". It also features the City of Sydney coat of arms, specially cast for these Sydney fountains and the inscription: "Keep the pavement dry".

23 comments:

  1. Adorei a estrutura, linda sombra no chão! Um abraço!

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  2. I am amazed that such a fountain still exists in Sydney! I have never seen one there! It is certainly a work of art that should be preserved!

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    1. As far as I know, there are three surviving of the original eight. I know that two others are in Darlinghurst. I have a list of the locations of the other five and I plan to investigate whether any of the others are still there.

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  3. This is one beautiful drinking fountain. The iron work is so nice. Very fancy. genie

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  4. a beautiful piece of street furniture - lovely shot

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  5. What a delightful, lovely fountain indeed! Great shadow shot for the day, Jim!!

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  6. We have a very similar fountain in Hull, with the same inscription but with Hull's coat of arms

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    1. I did see that when I was researching this particular fountain. They were probably made by the same company.

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  7. there is one similar to this in Portland Oregon in the South Park blocks.
    http://www.portlandwaterfountains.com/shemanski_fountain.html
    Unfortunately it has had a lot of vandalism in the past years unlike your fountain.

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    1. Kathe, thanks for the link. We have a few sandstone drinking fountains still around Sydney too, like that one. I've featured a few on this blog.

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  8. Wow, a great and artistic inspiration for a fountain!

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  9. What a gorgeous structure. We are not going to see cities spending that kind of money on water fountains any more.

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  10. It is a piece of art. Much more environmentally friendly than a plastic water bottle.

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  11. A pretty structure Jim and to think it came all the way fro Scotland. What a pity they don't all remain.

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  12. Again, great research. Look forward to seeing the other 5.

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  13. It is perfect in your neighborhood. A stylish way to serve the residents of the community. That is one thing investors consider when they buy property, a nice neighborhood. Thanks for sharing!

    r&w elizabeth bay

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  14. At least this one actually has a bubbler to drink from unlike the one in Macquarie Place.

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  15. Thank you for permission to use your photos.
    http://memorialdrinkingfountains.wordpress.com/2013/08/27/beare-park/

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Thanks for visiting my blog. Please leave me a message. Jim.

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