Written by Zoe McPherson, RAHS Volunteer
For many of us, a drinking fountain is simply a place to quench our thirst. For others, they are objects of architectural admiration. Yet they are much more than that. They hold history. They offer experiences. They create opportunities. The hundreds of drinking fountains built throughout Sydney’s parks, main roads, and tourist attractions have become markers of storytelling that trace chapters of Sydney’s past and present. (1) Hidden in plain sight, each fountain holds a story waiting to be revealed.
Frazer Fountain
Walking through Sydney’s Hyde Park, you will find a drinking fountain known as Frazer Fountain, one of two named after the man who donated it, John Frazer MLC. It was designed in 1884 by Sculptor Lawrence Beveridge and Architect Thomas Sapsford, who fashioned the Pyrmont sandstone into the Gothic-style drinking fountain we see today. (2)
As a penniless Irishman, Frazer arrived in Australia in 1841 when he was just 14 years old. He grew to own a wholesale grocery business in 1847, later becoming a successful director of commercial premises, a member of the NSW Legislative Council, and a generous philanthropist. (3) His willingness to gift those in his community was reflected in this fountain:
‘When Mr. Frazer first expressed his wish to donate two drinking fountains to his fellow citizens he offered a gift of £500. When tenders were called the lowest was found to be £800, and Mr. Frazer, on being communicated with, expressed his willingness to find the additional £300 sooner than sacrifice any architectural details.’ (4)
The people of Sydney once celebrated the gift of having such a beautifully convenient structure, created by the kindness of one of their own. (5) Today, we not only benefit from its ornate features but also honour John Frazer’s generosity and the rich history it carries.
Frazer Fountain in Hyde Park, Sydney, c. 1890 (RAHS Photograph Collection)
Glebe Jubilee Fountain
The Glebe Jubilee Fountain reveals more than meets the eye. Built in 1909 on Glebe Point Road, this structure features a sandstone column, a bronze coach light, and four basins. (6)
This fountain memorialises a significant event in the town’s history, the 1909 Jubilee of Glebe’s municipality. (7) Fifty years after Glebe’s local government was formed, a large public celebration, which included a ball, the fountain unveiling, and a reception, was held on 2 August 1909 at the local Town Hall to celebrate the history of the town and the achievements of its Municipal Council. (8)
The Glebe Jubilee fountain, unveiled during the town’s Jubilee celebrations, commemorates the milestones that shaped Glebe. As we continue to admire this drinking fountain, we are offered a small connection to that history and a moment to reflect on the community it celebrates.
Commemorative Fountain, Glebe, c.1953-1954 (Courtesy of City of Sydney Archives)
Anderson Fountain
In Parramatta’s Prince Alfred Square, you will find a historic drinking fountain that memorialises a selfless and devoted individual. Named the Anderson Fountain, it honours Dr Matthew Anderson, a surgeon and local politician from the United Kingdom who arrived in Australia in 1827 and tirelessly advocated for public access to clean water. (9)
Keith Macarthur Brown described Dr Anderson as an ‘English gentleman whose sterling qualities of mind and character were unstintingly devoted to the services of others’. (10) This praise reflects both his character and his achievements, including the successful negotiation to secure hospital buildings, furniture, and fittings for the benefit of the public. (11)
After he died in 1850, he bequeathed £200 to fund the construction of drinking fountains along the Parramatta River. (12) Thirty years later, the Anderson Fountain, initially intended for placement outside St John’s Church, (13) was unveiled in 1882 in Centenary Square before being relocated to Prince Alfred Park in 1888. (14) Through these fountains, the community honoured Dr Anderson’s memory and carried out his wishes for public access to clean water. (15)
Even a simple pause by the Anderson Fountain, whether to admire it or take a sip, offers a moment to reflect on Dr Anderson and his contributions to the community.
Conclusion
These histories show that drinking fountains are far more than just practical structures. They share stories that reveal how history was shaped, and they inspire us to shape the future. So, whenever you come across one of Sydney’s many historic drinking fountains, take a moment to appreciate the history and significance before you.
References:
(1) City of Sydney, ‘Drinking Fountains (Water Bubblers)’, 8 August 2025, <https://data.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/datasets/cityofsydney::drinking-fountains-water-bubblers/about>, accessed 12 August 2025.
(2) City of Sydney, ‘Frazer Fountain Hyde Park’, <https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/fountains-and-water-features/frazer-fountain-hyde-park>, accessed 13 August 2025.
(3) City of Sydney, ‘Frazer Fountain Hyde Park’.
(4) ‘The Frazer Fountain in Sydney’, Australian Town & Country Journal, 11 October 1884, p. 15.
(5) ‘The Frazer Fountain, St. Mary’s Road’, Sydney Morning Herald, 3 October 1884, p. 3.
(6) Kim Hanna, ‘Glebe Jubilee Fountain’, The Dictionary of Sydney, 2016, <https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/glebe_jubilee_fountain>, accessed 15 August 2025.
(7) Kim Hanna, ‘Glebe Jubilee Fountain’, para. 1.
(8) ‘Glebe Celebrations: Story of Municipality’, Sydney Morning Herald, 2 August 1909, p. 7.
(9) Peter Arfanis, ‘The Anderson Fountain, Parramatta – A Surgeon’s Gift’, 2014, <https://historyandheritage.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/blog/2014/06/04/the-anderson-fountain-a-surgeons-gift>, accessed 15 August 2025, para. 2.
(10) Keith Brown quoted in John McClymont, ‘Dr Matthew Anderson: Surgeon & Local Politician’, April 1999, <https://historyandheritage.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/blog/2020/04/03/dr-mathew-anderson-surgeon-local-politician>, accessed 15 August 2025, para. 4.
(11) McClymont, ‘Dr Matthew Anderson: Surgeon & Local Politician’, para. 8.
(12) Peter Arfanis, ‘The Anderson Fountain, Parramatta – A Surgeon’s Gift’, para. 3.
(13) ‘Country News: Parramatta’, Empire, 24 July 1862, p. 2.
(14) John McClymont, ‘Dr Matthew Anderson: Surgeon & Local Politician’, para. 20.
(15) John McClymont, ‘Dr Matthew Anderson: Surgeon & Local Politician’, para. 22.
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