PATTERSON MEMORIAL DRINKING FOUNTAIN
30 MOSTYN STREET CASTLEMAINE, MOUNT ALEXANDER SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
STATEMENT OF CULTURAL HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE:
The Patterson Memorial Drinking Fountain was built in 1897 to commemorate Sir James Patterson, Member of Parliament for Castlemaine from 1870 to 1895 and Premier of Victoria from 1893 to 1894. The council had held a competition and the winning entry was by artist and architect TF Levick, Art Master at the Castlemaine School of Mines. The contractor was WT Jones, and the carvings by Mr Brocket of Kyneton from models prepared by the architect. The fountain is a large, elaborate structure in bluestone, granite, concrete, and marble with four pillars arranged in a square supporting a pedestal which is surmounted by four arched pediments with pointed finials and a tall central finial with a conical cap. The drinking fountain is in the centre with carved dolphin-like figures above the fonts. A trough was provided for horses and cattle, and at both ends of the fountain there are drinking troughs for dogs.
The Patterson Memorial Drinking Fountain has architectural and historical importance to the State of Victoria.
The memorial is an architecturally important example of a nineteenth century drinking fountain catering for both humans and animals. It is distinguished from most other drinking fountains in terms of its design, scale and craftsmanship. It is one of the most elaborate drinking fountains in Victoria with highly unusual features such as the tall conical finials. It is also a rare example of a drinking fountain built as a memorial to a state premier.
The Patterson Memorial Fountain is historically important for its associations with Sir James Patterson, butcher, auctioneer and politician, who represented Castlemaine in the Legislative Assembly for 25 years.
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PATTERSON MEMORIAL DRINKING FOUNTAIN - History
Contextual History:History of Place:
Sir James Patterson, butcher, auctioneer and politician, was born in Alnwick, Northumberland, England in 1833 and came to Melbourne in 1852. He tried his luck at the Forest Creek goldfield without success and then took up farming at Glenlyon near Daylesford. In 1858 he moved into the cattle slaughtering business at Chewton and although some people found his early business practices, he became a prominent local identity. He was mayor of Chewton for four successive years.
He moved to Melbourne with his family in 1870 where he entered the real estate business. In the same year he was elected to the Legislative Assembly for Castlemaine and held the seat until his death in 1895. He held positions in Berry’s ministries of 1875, 1877-80 and 1880-81. After a sojourn in England he returned to Victoria in 1885 where he was in the Oppposition until 1889 when he joined those he had opposed and took up the post of commissioner for trade and customs in the Gillies government. He became premier and chief secretary on 23 January 1893. His ministry coincided with the depression and his government bore the full brunt of criticism. His government was defeated in August 1894, however Patterson’s reputation increased in Opposition as the succeeding government was equally ineffectual in dealing with the situation and he was knighted. He died on 2 December 1895 aged 61.
History of Place:
The council advertised for an “ornamental fountain or any other suitable memorial to commemorate the memory of the late Sir James Patterson, in bluestone and granite, cost not to exceed £250”. The winning entry selected by the Patterson Memorial Committee was submitted by Melbourne architect T.F. Levick, Art Master at the Castlemaine School of Mines. The winning design was described in the following way:
“Mr L is to be complemented upon his success, his design being a very handsome one, and besides reflecting so creditably upon himself, also redounds to the credit of the School of Mines. The fountain will be bluestone and polished granite, and consists of four square pillars, the usual pedestal, over which there are to be four arched pediments, with tall spiral finials. These supplement the central finial, which attains an altitude of about 25 feet. Over the front arch is a polished granite tablet for the inscription, and in the centre is a drinking font that is approached by a couple of steps. In the front a trough is provided for horses and cattle, and at either end of the useful and ornamental fountain there are drinking troughs for dogs.”
COMPARISON:
The Patterson Memorial Drinking Fountain stands out from most other drinking fountains in terms of its design, scale and craftsmanship. Unlike most other drinking fountains, it has a substantial structure housing the fountain with steps leading up to it and a marble tiled floor. The closest comparisons in this regard would be the Northcote South Progress Association Fountain and the First World War Fountain, Wesburn but even these are not as substantial as the Patterson Fountain. The canopied fountains such as the Henderson Fountain, North Melbourne and the Wilkinson Memorial, Williamstown are also not as substantial as the Patterson Memorial. The carved figures compare well to the carvings on the Westgarth Fountain, Carlton Gardens. The Patterson Fountain is one of only about five extant fountains throughout Victoria incorporating drinking troughs for horses and dogs.
The fountain was constructed in 1897 at a cost of £244. Mr W. T. Jones of Malmsbury and Kyneton, was the contractor. The polished granite was supplied by Mr Guthrie of Harcourt. The ornamental details were carved by Mr Brocket of Kyneton from models prepared by the architect. The fountain was officially unveiled by the Governor, Lord Brassey on 29 April 1897.PATTERSON MEMORIAL DRINKING FOUNTAIN - Permit Exemptions
General Exemptions:General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions. Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.Specific Exemptions:EXEMPTIONS FROM PERMITS:
(Classes of works or activities which may be undertaken without a permit under
Part 4 of the Heritage Act 1995)
General Conditions:
All exempted alterations are to be planned and carried out in a manner which
prevents damage to the fabric of the registered place or object.
Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of
alterations that original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the
place or object are revealed which relate to the significance of the place or
object, then the exemption covering such alteration shall cease and the
Executive Director shall be notified as soon as possible.
If there is a conservation policy and plan approved by the Executive Director,
all works shall be in accordance with it.
Nothing in this declaration prevents the Executive Director from amending or
rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions.
Nothing in this declaration exempts owners or their agents from the
responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the
responsible authority where applicable.
Minor repairs and maintenance which replace like with like.
Repairs to plumbing provided that they do not damage the fabric of the
fountain.
Laying or removal of concrete or bitumen paving within the registered land.
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FLOUR MILLVictorian Heritage Register H0395
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BANK OF NEW SOUTH WALESVictorian Heritage Register H0131
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FORMER CBC BANKVictorian Heritage Register H0712
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