"Seriously? I mean, that would be the worst possible outcome."
That was the response from a specialist engineer when asked by The Illawarra Flame about plans not to restore the Illawarra Mercury Five Islands Fountain in Wollongong's Botanic Garden but replace it with an interpretive sign showing what the fountain looked like in its heyday.
In 2017, engineer Denis Williams was commissioned by the family of the creator of the Five Islands Fountain, Bob Woodward, to produce a detailed report into its state of repair and what was required to get it up and running again.
That report showed the fountain required significant work and in parts alone it would cost $31,000 to restore the water sculpture. It was presented to Wollongong Council but no further action was taken.
Denis knows a bit about Bob Woodward's fountains. His father helped create one of Woodward's most famous water features, the El Alamein Fountain at Kings Cross in 1961. And about five years ago, Denis worked on the refurbishment of that same fountain; paid for by Sydney City Council.
Woodward's fountains are famous
"Of all of Bob's fountains, El Alamein is his most famous and his most copied fountain throughout the world," Denis said.
He added that the Five Islands Fountain sitting dry today in Wollongong Botanic Garden is also special.
"It's an icon. Bob's fountains are renowned throughout the world. It would be great to see Five Islands running again."
Denis admitted bringing the Wollongong fountain back to life "would be a challenge" and the cost of repair would have gone up significantly since his quote eight years ago. But he believes the repair and restoration job should be done.
Denis said he didn't think the Council was serious when he heard of plans not to restore the fountain but place a sign nearby to show how it once looked. He believes that would be "an embarrassment" and "the worst possible outcome".
It is 'something to be proud of'
"It's a fountain; it is not a sculpture. It's at its best when it's running," Denis said. "Wollongong is always seen as lesser and poorer than Sydney and here the city has something special and something to be proud of. It would be wonderful to see the fountain running again."
The fountain's had a patchy history and since it was gifted to the people of Wollongong in 1980 by The Illawarra Mercury on the occasion of its 125th anniversary, it's only been operational for a handful of years.
The Mercury commissioned Australia's preeminent creator of fountains, Bob Woodward, to design this gift to the city but its time in the heart of Wollongong – at Rest Park, adjacent to Burelli Street – was short-lived. It was relocated to make way for a multi-storey carpark in the mid 1980s when it was relocated to its current home in the middle of the botanic garden. For most of the past 40 years, the Five Islands Fountain hasn't been working.
$6,000 gift was for restoration not signage
The future of the city's fountain gift only became a talking point again when Council went out for public exhibition last month, seeking feedback on the garden's 10-year masterplan. It's in that plan that Council recommends leaving the fountain dry and using money, gifted by The Illawarra Mercury to the Friends of the Gardens, to erect an interpretive sign. The irony is that when the $6,000 was gifted to the Friends it was specifically to be used for the fountain's restoration as reported at the time in The Illawarra Mercury.
Two local community groups, the Keiraville Residents Action Group and Neighbourhood Forum 5, have made submissions to Council asking that it does what it can to restore the Five Islands Fountain.
Daughter urges full refurbishment
The daughter of the fountain's creator, Bob Woodward, has made a submission of her own as part of the consultation period, which is now closed.
"On behalf of Robert Woodward's family, I write to strongly urge the Council to fully refurbish the Mercury Five Islands Fountain to original working order," wrote Jane van Hagen.
"The fountain has languished for some time, allowing the hydraulic equipment and pool structure to fall into disrepair. Following Council's welcome enquiries in 2017 seeking to reactivate the fountain, our family commissioned a specialist engineering refurbishment report for Council's budgeting and consideration. Since that time we have unsuccessfully pursed positive action from Council."
Jane said the current botanic garden masterplanning exercise presents a welcome opportunity to get the fountain operational again.
"However, we note with disappointment that the masterplan proposes only interpretive signage for the fountain, a very poor civic response to a generously donated work by The Illawarra Mercury.
"The current councillors may not be aware that my father specifically designed the powerful waterplay for Wollongong City – representing the Five Islands, the surf coast and local industry with wave forms cast in now weathered steel.
"The five sculptural forms have stood silent and still for too long. Returning the fountain's essential water element for renewed movement, light and sound would honour both The Illawarra Mercury's generosity and my father's design intention, even for just a short time each day," Jane said.
"We look forward to a renewed fountain and welcome any opportunity to assist Council in that endeavour.”
Fountains have a role to play
Figtree-based landscape architect Kathryn Morgan believes fountains and water features have an important role to play.
"Water play and water interaction are desired by our community but I imagine water play isn't within the scope of Wollongong Botanic Gardens at this point," Kathryn said.
She has two suggestions for Council to consider and she strongly believes future water needs should centre on Country with design to be co-led by Traditional Owners.
"I think water is needed in the city centre. One idea is to relocate the Five Islands Fountain into the Crown Street Mall and invest in refreshed interpretation centring on Country."
Kathryn said if the fountain was to stay in the Botanic Garden, "I agree with the comments that signage is not adequate.
"I would suggest a planting design that narrates the stories and significance of the fountain, that keeps sustainability as a core theme, so water might be included but not to the extent of the original design, and it should be ecological, not ornamental."
Council is currently reviewing public submissions before finalising the new Wollongong Botanic Garden masterplan.
