Fountain rejuvenation

Work is progressing on an Ararat Memorial Fountain restoration project, with contractors installing improved plumbing and lighting.

Art conservator Andrew Thorn of Artcare has been on site to oversee work, which includes drilling connections to allow water to again flow through all the exit points.

Ararat Rural City Council chief executive Tim Harrison said the work was intricate and complex, with Exell Plumbing’s Darrell Juchno working carefully with Mr Thorn to restore the plumbing system.

Dr Harrison said workers had to temporarily remove parts of the fountain. “The work requires careful heritage conservation methods, which are quite complex and intricate, so the people working on site are taking their time to ensure it is done correctly,” he said.

Mr Thorn will start repair work on the fountain’s decorative features, including the griffins, dolphins and grotesque masks, in the coming months.

The work also involves photogrammetry from a replica fountain in Hamilton to help with reconstruction of missing design elements, including a fountain-top cherub and bowl.

Mr Thorn is also experimenting with paint to ensure the fountain is repainted in its original sandstone colour.

Dr Harrison said the work had been made possible with money from the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions fund, Ararat Rural City Council and a ‘generous’ donation from Ararat Community Enterprise.

“We are really looking forward to seeing the fountain working again and we know the community is too,” he said.

Expectations are that the fountain restoration work will be complete within four months.