The Frazer Fountains
John Frazer’s wholesale grocery business was for many years
a land mark in York Street. He made money from the enterprise and
used it for social good by providing bursaries for ‘poor lads’
education and nourishing various spiritual causes. He also contributed
to the quenching physical thirst through the donation of £1,000
to the City Council for the erection of fountains.
Two imposing ‘Frazer’ drinking fountains were erected
in the 1880s. They were designed by the City Architect, Thomas Sapsford,
and carved in Pyrmont stone by Lawrence Beveridge. The basins for
the fountains were made of Scottish granite.
Images
John
Frazer
John Frazer as illustrated in Charles F. Maxwell, Australian
Men of Mark, Volume 1, Sydney, 1889.
Frazer
Fountain, Hyde Park
The Gothic style Frazer Fountain in its original position
at the entrance to Hyde Park at the Oxford Street end,
c.1908. It was subsequently moved twice – firstly
into the middle of Hyde Park, and then again to make way
for the Anzac Memorial Pool of Reflection. (City
of Sydney Archives, SRC Photographic Files)
Third
time lucky
This snapshot of the Frazer Fountain was taken just after
its second (and final) relocation to an entrance of Hyde
Park in College Street in 1935. The granite basins and
taps of the drinking fountain have been replaced by a
simple sandstone pedestal bubbling fountain. (City
of Sydney Archives, SRC Photographic Files)
Unveiling
the second fountain
The second Frazer drinking fountain was unveiled on 2
October 1884. The Sydney Morning Herald reported the event,
giving a detailed account of the Mayor’s speech
and describing the architectural style of the monument.
The Herald declared the fountain – an ‘ornate
shrine of the cold water’ designed in the Italian
Renaissance style-- was ‘a beautiful invitation
to passers-by to come and drink, and a fine memorial of
the generosity of the donor’.
Prince
Albert Road in the 1930s.
This photograph shows the second Frazer Fountain standing
in the middle of Prince Albert Road with the Outer Domain
in the background. In the 1930s, as it is today, this
was a convenient and popular place to park. (City
of Sydney Archives, CRS 44/256)
Keep
left
The Frazer Fountain in Prince Albert Road was originally
located to suit pedestrian traffic passing by the entrance
to the Outer Domain. But as motor vehicle traffic increased,
its precarious position in the middle of the street placed
it in increasing danger of collisions. Keep left signs
were erected for oncoming traffic and the fountain, by
default, became one of the city’s earliest roundabouts.
This photograph shows the fountain in 1954, with St Mary’s
Cathedral in the background. (City of Sydney
Archives, CRS 268/98)
