When Sunbury’s iconic water fountain was built in 1983 it was adorned with a commemorative plaque. However, a reader says council staff removed it during maintenance work – and it has not been seen since.
Words on the missing plaque are: “To commemorate the declaration by the Hon Evan Walker MP (minister for planning) of the completion of construction of the Sunbury streetscaping and water fountain 29th June 1983.
“Funds for construction made available to council as a Victorian government special allocation as recommended by the Melton / Sunbury management committee.”
The fountain, built adjacent to the town’s village green on the corner of O’Shanassy St and Brook St – when it was part of the Shire of Bulla – is a government monument.
However, it was nearly lost in 2015, the year Mr Walker died, when town planners proposed it be replaced with inground water jets to entertain children.
However, thanks to 589 vocal locals signing a petition to save it, council had second thoughts, upgraded it, and added colour to the water display using concealed lights. And this is when the plaque is thought to have been lost.
The fountain got a $35,000 make-over in 2023 when new water jets and lights were fitted.
The plaque is important. It tells locals and visitors when the fountain sprung into life, who built it, and it’s a nod to the days before Sunbury was consumed by a city council.
Was it tossed away by mistake, mislaid, or is it in someone’s safe-keeping? Even if the plaque can’t be found, a replica should be made to replace it.
Click here to see our other reports on the Sunbury fountain.
Sunbury’s iconic fountain sporting the now missing plaque. Photo / Sandra Brown.The plaque that was once on the side of Sunbury’s fountain. Where is it now? Photo / Sandra Brown.
