Queen Victoria Monument, New Plymouth
| Queen Victoria Monument | |
|---|---|
| Drinking Fountain | |
 Queen Victoria Monument in Pukekura Park | |
| Location | New Plymouth, New Zealand Pukekura Park, 10 Fillis Street |
Interactive map of Queen Victoria Monument | |
| Coordinates: 39°03′51″S 174°04′44″E / 39.064176°S 174.078943°E | |
| Designated | 1 September 1983 |
| Reference no. | 908 |
The Queen Victoria Monument in Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, is a historic marble drinking fountain, recognised by Heritage New Zealand as a Category 2 Historic Place.[1] Built under G. W. Browne's supervision and crafted by stonemason J. Russell, the fountain was unveiled on 22 June 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.
History
Towards the end of 1889, a Sports Ground Committee was established in New Plymouth with a clear mandate to develop the town's recreational grounds into a venue capable of hosting the full range of popular sports, including rugby and cricket. Over the course of seven years, the committee pursued this mission with steady determination. By the time its members judged their work complete, they resolved to dissolve the committee and return management of the grounds to the Recreation Ground Board.[2]
Yet, upon dissolution, a small surplus remained in the committee's accounts. Rather than dispersing it quietly, the executors – N. K. McDiarmid and G. W. Browne – proposed that the funds be used for a new drinking fountain connected to the town water supply. They met with the Recreation Grounds Board and offered the £13 in hand as the foundation of a public subscription fund, estimating that approximately £50 would be required to realise the project. Agreement was reached swiftly. The fountain would be erected near the Band Rotunda, at the base of Cannon Hill, overlooking the Main Lake, and Mr Browne prepared the plans for the structure. Construction advanced under his supervision, even as public contributions arrived slowly.[2]
As the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria approached, celebrating her sixty years on the throne, the committee determined that the new fountain should serve as a commemorative gesture. On 22 June 1897, during the Jubilee festivities held in the grounds, the drinking fountain, crafted by stonemason J. Russell, was formally unveiled by Mr H. Brown, on behalf of the Sports Ground Committee.[3]
Today, the area with the drinking fountain, the Band Rotunda, the Kiosk (Teahouse), the waterfall and the boat steps, is the main hub of the park.[4]
Description
According to the original plans prepared by Mr Browne, the drinking fountain is twelve feet in height, supported by marble columns and finished with marble facings. The structure features a lion's head spout and remains a functional drinking station for park visitors today.[2][5]
The monument reflects the Victorian era's influence on the park's early development and is one of four Heritage New Zealand listed historic places within the grounds.[5]
Image gallery
Pukekura Park with Queen Victoria Monument, Band Rotunda and Poet's Bridge in 1905.jpg)
Queen Victoria Monument in Pukekura Park.jpg)
Queen Victoria Monument and Band Rotunda.jpg)
Queen Victoria Monument memorial plaque
References
- ↑ "Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Drinking Fountain". Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Pukekura Park – Jubilee Drinking Fountain". History of Pukekura Park. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
- ↑ "A picture of Taranaki: The drinking fountain at Pukekura Park". The Post. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
- ↑ Lambert, Ron. "Pukekura: the people´s park". New Zealand Geographic. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
- 1 2 "Jubilee Drinking Fountain". New Plymouth district Council. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
External links
Media related to Queen Victoria Monument, New Plymouth at Wikimedia Commons