As the redevelopment of Ararat’s Arts Precinct begins, former mayor of Ararat Rural City Council Pat McAloon has called for the Boer War Memorial Fountain to be included.
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Mr McAloon said he was pleased to learn state government funding was being provided for the restoration of the Ararat Arts Precinct, praising the Andrws Government and council for its facilitation.
But after speaking to several councillors, Mr McAloon said he has concern restoration of the Boer War Memorial Fountain was not included in the project.
The Ararat Boer Memorial Fountain has significant historical and heritage significance. Originally established in 1905 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee, the fountain later became a memorial for the Boer War, to which 21 volunteers from Ararat were sent.
Mr McAloon said the 1994 Ararat Heritage Study noted: "The Boer War Memorial Fountain is of local significance historically as a marker to the imperial patriotism of that time and architecturally as an example of municipal beautification."
“I would encourage council to restore the fountain to its former glory,” Mr McAloon said.
“Over the past 112 years the fountain has been allowed to fall into disrepair and urgently requires major restoration.”
Ararat mayor Paul Hooper said while the fountain was not included as part of the redevelopment, the council had been advocating to restore it to its former glory for a number of years.
He went on to say that while everyone would love to see that happen, it was quite a expensive to restore and, at this stage, the council had not found the appropriate vehicle for doing it.
