Fish Safe In The Harbour But Not So In The Fountains

[mrmoshe]

Fish safe in the harbour but not so in the fountains

SINCE commercial fishing was banned in Sydney Harbour, it seems enterprising anglers have gone looking in other inner-city waterways for their catch.

Just up the road from Circular Quay, in the frothy waters of Sydney's most famous fountain, a new breed of fish is apparently considered fair game.

Bemused City of Sydney staff cannot come up with an explanation for the mysterious disappearance of two bronze water-spouting fish from the Archibald Fountain four months ago.

The theft may have been an undergraduate prank or the act of a home gardener keen to augment a backyard water feature. Whatever the case, a council spokesman, Mark Scala, said the fish were bolted down and possibly welded in place, and it might have taken vandals some time to wade into the fountain and hack them off with a saw or similar tool.

"At this stage the culprits have not been caught, but it is disappointing that one of the iconic features of Hyde Park was shown such blatant disregard," he said.

"City staff will ensure the replacement fish match the original bronze figures as closely as possible."

Castings are being made by local sculptors to produce new bronze versions.

"The new fish will be produced by conservation experts and they will be replaced as soon as possible," Mr Scala said.

He reassured the Herald that the turtles and other marine life featured remained intact.

The council's website proclaims the feature to be "Sydney's favourite fountain" but in the same blurb describes it as "somewhat bizarre". It depicts the god Apollo, Diana the Huntress, Theseus and the Minotaur, and Jason and the Golden Fleece, surrounded by tortoises and - originally - six fish.

Designed by the Parisian sculptor Francois Sicard and erected in 1932, the fountain was intended to celebrate the association between Australia and France in World War I.

It was bequeathed in the will of J.F. Archibald, who founded the Bulletin magazine and left money for the creation of the Archibald Prize for portraits.

[Penguin]

Designed by the Parisian sculptor Francois Sicard and erected in 1932, the fountain was intended to celebrate the association between Australia and France in World War I.

A roman god,charactors and beasts from greek mythology,

serounded by tortoises and fish.

What has this to do with Australias association with France in WW1?

Somwhat bizzare indeed.

Penguin

Edited July 29, 2006 by penguin

[mrmoshe]

Yeah, it looks like the good French sculptor just threw in anything he could lay his hands on he had in his backyard at the time.

Lucky he didn't have a kitchen sink laying around eh?

Pete.

[Penguin]

Yeah, it looks like the good French sculptor just threw in anything he could lay his hands on he had in his backyard at the time.

Lucky he didn't have a kitchen sink laying around eh?

Pete.

Yes very lucky,