An Illawarra Flame survey of Wollongong’s elected councillors on whether the Illawarra Mercury Five Islands Fountain should be saved, or not, has revealed some interesting results.
While one councillor describes the fountain as “iconic” and another as “fantastic” and “beautiful”, yet another – who confesses she’s never seen it operating – referred to it as “pedestrian”.
This month The Flame has run a series of articles outlining the history of the city’s largest and most spectacular fountain (when it’s operating).
In 1980, amidst much fanfare, The Illawarra Mercury commissioned Australia’s leading fountain designer, Bob Woodward AM, to create something special for the city centre to celebrate the newspaper’s 125th anniversary. It was a thank you to the people of Wollongong for their ongoing loyalty.
What Woodward created in the CBD’s Rest Park was a tribute to the Five Islands, just off the coast. The Five Islands, or ‘Woolyungah’ in Dharawal language, is where the name Wollongong came from.
A few years later, Council decided to move the fountain to Wollongong’s Botanic Gardens. The fountain was switched on again in 1986 but for most of the past 40 years it’s been out of action.
Draft masterplan prompts discussion
There has been renewed interest in the fountain with Council currently seeking public feedback on a 10-year masterplan for the Gardens.
As that plan currently sits, the Five Islands Fountain will remain inoperable, with Council staff saying the running costs are exorbitantly high.
The fountain designer, Bob Woodward, who lays claim to designing many of Australia’s most loved fountains, passed away in 2010. His family has taken up the cause to ‘rescue’ the Wollongong fountain and has shared with The Illawarra Flame a 2017 engineer’s report into the cost of restoring it. In 2017 terms, the cost of the parts needed to upgrade the artwork was approximately $31,000. The family doesn’t know what Council did with that report.
While Council says it consulted with the family in making its recommendation to keep the fountain turned off, the family said the only contact they had with Council staff was many years ago and they never agreed to leave the fountain high and dry. At their own expense, the family commissioned an expert engineer to assess what needed to be done and the cost to restore the fountain. That 2017 report which was presented to Council is located here.
In the months ahead, once the consultation period on the Botanic Gardens masterplan is concluded, Council will make a final decision.
The options are to restore the fountain to its former glory, or leave it in situ – dry, but with a large sign showing an image of how the fountain did look when it was fully operational.
The Illawarra Flame is aware that Council staff have briefed their elected representatives on the masterplan behind closed doors.
The Flame doesn’t know what was said in that briefing about 2025 restoration costs, how the fountain could be modified to make it more energy and water efficient, what the staff told councillors about the views of the Woodward family or management of the Illawarra Mercury who gifted the artwork to the city 45 years ago. We don’t know if questions were asked about whether there was a more suitable, high-profile location for the fountain in the city, nor what other funding options there might be for the restoration works, either from elsewhere in Council’s budget or from state or federal arts or heritage grants.
Lord Mayor keen to hear from 'many voices'
This week, The Illawarra Flame asked all Wollongong councillors if they’d seen the Five Islands Fountain operating and whether they had a view on whether it was, in fact, worthy of restoration.
Lord Mayor Cr Tania Brown said: "The Wollongong Botanic Garden Draft Masterplan identifies a range of short, medium and long-term improvements to guide the development and service delivery for this key regional facility. The fountain is one element of the draft Masterplan.
"The Botanic Garden is a much loved part of our City and we’re keen to hear from as many voices as possible on the draft Masterplan before consultation closes on 20 August."
Four councillors said they had seen it in action; five had not or couldn’t recall having seen it.
Cr Andrew Anthony said he “was only five years old when the Five Islands Fountain was dismantled in Rest Park to make way for the Gateway development. I remember being fascinated by it when I saw it operating as a child. I’ve since taken my son to see it in its current location in the Wollongong Botanic Garden but sadly it’s in a state of disrepair.
“I’ve previously asked Council staff about the possibility of getting the fountain running again, even if only for short periods throughout the day. It would be a shame to lose something so iconic and unique to our city through neglect.”
Cr David Brown said he recalled seeing the fountain running but he can’t recall exactly when.
“Some years back Council did scoping on the capital and recurrent costs to make it go – the item is incredibly power- and water-inefficient to run.
“I have a memory there was a request to see if the Uni engineering department could help with a redesign. No idea if that was a dead end.”
The Illawarra Flame has asked Council for any copy it holds of a UOW engineering report into the fountain. We are awaiting a response.
Water consumption is a concern
Both Cr Richard Martin and Cr Dan Hayes say they haven’t seen the fountain in action.
Cr Hayes said, “It can be a real challenge to honour the past without living in it, so I do look forward to seeing the feedback from the community about the fountain and the masterplan overall.”
Cr Thomas Quinn does recall seeing the fountain flowing “and like Bob Woodward’s other fountains I think it is fantastic".
He said he confirmed with council staff the last time the fountain was flowing was in 2009 to coincide with the Mercury’s 150th anniversary.
Cr Quinn said several “technical issues” had been given by staff for the fountain being out of action for so long. These included the fountain’s “high water and energy consumption when in operation”.
Cr Quinn said when operating, at times due to blockages and high winds, staff said 20,000 litres of water a day could be lost “about half the average backyard swimming pool”. He also cited the “lack of a water quality management system” for the fountain no longer being operational.
Cr Kit Docker acknowledged the history behind the fountain, saying he agreed that "council staff should at least investigate the costs of restoring the fountain to ensure it can run sustainably both from a cost and water usage perspective".
"It’s important that there’s plenty of awareness and the community’s interest in this fountain comes through in the submissions,” Cr Docker said.
A question of priorities
Fellow Greens Councillor Jess Whittaker can’t recall seeing the fountain working but described the photos published by The Illawarra Flame as “very beautiful.”
“I agree it’s a shame the fountain isn’t in use but, like most projects it would be an expensive project to fix and as a city we have many other projects competing for our budget.”
Cr Whittaker listed her priorities as helping council deliver footpaths, cycleways, playgrounds and skateparks, library services and community events. She said she would “support projects in the Masterplan which will benefit the Botanic Gardens users like a cafe and new toilet block”.
Deputy Mayor Cr Linda Campbell says she is “old enough to remember seeing the fountain operating in the Garden".
"It would be nice to see it operating again but is it a priority for Council and what else could the money be spent on in the Garden?” she said. “At this time Council doesn’t have a cost of getting it restored sustainably, so let’s see what comes out of the exhibition.” Cr Campbell said restoring the fountain was a different proposition to restoring the Kawasaki Bridge, a sister city gift to Council (and also located in the Botanic Garden) because the bridge wouldn’t have ongoing costs for its operation and maintenance.
Views range from 'pedestrian' to 'beautiful'
Councillor Ann Martin says having not grown up in Wollongong, “I haven’t seen it working that I can remember.” Cr Martin studied sculpture in Sydney at the time the sculpture was commissioned in 1980 and then went on to do her Masters in Auckland. Despite not seeing the Five Islands Fountain operating, Cr Martin said, “It is not particularly interesting. Given how little Council allocates to public art each year (about $100,000) I’d much rather see new work commissioned than spend money on this rather pedestrian sculpture.”
Cr Anthony has a contrary view. “I understand that costs are a big concern for Council. If there were a business or generous individual interested in contributing financially, that would be wonderful. Restoring the fountain would likely require significant work, and ideally it could be redesigned to be more energy and water efficient.”
It’s clear Cr Anthony isn’t giving up on the city’s only fountain of prominence without exploring all possibilities. “I’d love to help make it happen and see this beautiful piece of history brought back to life.”
Submissions to the Wollongong Botanic Gardens Masterplan close on Wednesday, 20 August and can be made via Council’s website or via engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.
Wollongong's other fountain
Meanwhile, council says the only remaining fountain in our city centre will be back in action soon after several months shut down.
A Council spokesperson said: “The fountain was temporarily out of operation due to a broken valve in the fountain reticulation system. The fountain remained out of operation while we awaited arrival of a replacement part to complete the repair.
"The repair has now been carried out. The fountain will now undergo cleaning before an anticipated return to normal operation by the end of next week.”
