"We may have been consulted, but what's planned is not what the family wanted."
The family of the creator of the spectacular Illawarra Mercury Five Islands Fountain is objecting to plans by Wollongong Council to keep the fountain turned off indefinitely.
As reported in The Illawarra Flame, a new 10-year draft masterplan for the Wollongong Botanic Gardens is recommending the grand fountain, our city's biggest, be left high and dry. Council cites mechanical issues and high water and energy consumption for not restoring the work.
In the late 1970s, The Illawarra Mercury commissioned Australia's best known fountain designer, Bob Woodward, to create a memorable piece to be located in the heart of the CBD in a small park in Burelli Street. The fountain was to be a lasting gift to the city to celebrate the Mercury's 125th anniversary, and as a thank you to the people of the region for their support of the newspaper for so many years.
Several years later, when Council received plans for commercial development in the city, it was decided to relocate the fountain – at the developer's expense – to the Botanic Garden. It was recommissioned and reopened in June 1986 amidst much fanfare by the then lord mayor, Frank Arkell.
A sign will tell the fountain's story
In the nearly 40 years that have followed, the fountain has rarely been operational, and Council's new Gardens' masterplan says it should stay that way. Council proposes to install a sign nearby, showing images of the fountain flowing freely in its prime and telling the story of the fountain's history.
It's so long since the fountain was operational that it's likely most locals haven't heard of it or seen it working.
This week The Illawarra Flame has been able to access much of the fountain's remarkable story, speaking exclusively with the daughter of Bob Woodward, the creative genius behind the Mercury Five Islands Fountain.
Jane van Hagen is proud of her dad's lifetime achievements as an architect and landscape architect who gained widespread recognition across Australia and the world for his innovative fountain designs.
Wollongong's fountain is unique
"Every one of dad's fountains was different and designed for a specific site, so the Wollongong fountain was unique, created to be installed on a sloping site," Jane said.
For three decades, Bob Woodward was called upon to design many of Australia's best-loved fountains. These included the El Alamein Memorial Fountain at Kings Cross (1961), The Canberra Times Fountain (1979), the Cascade at the High Court of Australia in Canberra (1980), the Darling Harbour Water Feature (1988) and fountains at the NSW and Australian parliaments in the 1980s.
Jane, who has followed in her father's footsteps as an architect, said she recalled how pleased her father was with Wollongong's Five Islands Fountain.
"It was the only one of its type that dad created, so it is significant," Jane said.
Family wants to see the fountain restored
Responding to a Council statement that it had consulted with the late Mr Woodward's family, Jane said 'We may have been consulted but what's planned is not what the family wanted."
Jane said the family's strong preference was to see the fountain restored to its original condition. But she said it was "years" since the Council last communicated with the family, "probably before Covid more than five years ago. We've heard nothing since. They were unequivocal, they weren't going to tell me what they planned to do."
She was disappointed when contacted by The Flame with the news that Council was recommending against restoring the fountain to its former glory, keeping it in mothballs and putting a sign nearby showing images of the fountain in full flight.
"I'm not sure who makes these decisions. Probably someone in the finance department," Jane said. "They probably think they have better things to do with their money. It's an easy decision to cut funding to restore a fountain."
Others recognise the benefit of fountains
She said the vast majority of her father's famous fountains were kept in good working order and restored when necessary. She said other organisations responsible for fountains recognised their community benefit.
Long-time supporters of the gardens, speaking as individuals, told The Flame they supported the fountain being restored if the money could be found, believing it would be a significant enhancement to the botanic garden as an attraction for locals and visitors alike. One fountain fan said Council appeared to have put it "in the too hard basket".
"If it's about the cost, there are many ways to save money," Jane said. "They could install a timer so it's not operating all day and night. After all, the gardens aren't open 24 hours a day. They could run the fountain for two hours in the middle of the day."
Jane said she'd be lodging a submission on behalf of the family as part of Council's consultation process for its 10-year masterplan for the Garden's future. The masterplan can be viewed on Council's engagement website, at any Council library, or the Burelli Street Council administration centre. Submissions can be made by emailing engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.