The fountain within Cameron Park, Wellington is set to receive some tender loving care as stage 1 work commences to restore the much loved focal piece. The fountain was erected in 1909 after being donated by the partners of G E Wise & Co.
The fountain underwent some restoration work in 2000, however, since that time the fountain has been significantly weathered and is in need of further refurbishment to preserve its structural integrity and appearance.
Dubbo Regional Council (DRC) have engaged O'Sullivan Conservation to carry out the works that will begin this week. O'Sullivan Conservation recently completed the successful restoration of the Winged Victory Cenotaph within Cameron Park.
The stage 1 work to the fountain will include repairs to the concrete and mortar, pond water proofing, investigations into the internal plumbing and hydraulics as well as reinstalling the cherub that previously sat on top of the fountain.
Mayor of the Dubbo Region Councillor Ben Shields said the fountain is an important feature within the park. "The Cameron Park fountain is an extremely treasured piece of Wellington's history and it's important that we restore these figures for generations to come," said Councillor Shields.
DRC's Director of Liveability Skye Price echoed the Mayor's sentiment. "The fountain has definitely seen better days and requires a specialist team to protect the integrity of such a unique structure. It is great to have the team from O'Sullivan Conservation back on site to complete the necessary work," said Ms Price.
DRC has allocated just over $51,000 to bring the fountain back to its former glory. The stage 1 work is expected to be complete by mid-June 2021.
