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BELCHER DRINKING FOUNTAIN
MALOP STREET GEELONG, GREATER GEELONG CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register
1 belcher drinking fountain geelong front view
1 belcher drinking fountain geelong front view
1 belcher drinking fountain geelong front view
h01116 plan h1116
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?

The Belcher Drinking Fountain was presented to the Town of Geelong by retiring Mayor Councillor GF Belcher in 1874. The cast iron fountain, which was imported from Andrew Handyside and Co, iron founders in England, consists of a cylindrical structure surrounded by Corinthian columns and surmounted with a cupid figure and lantern.

How is it significant?

The Belcher Drinking Fountain is of architectural, aesthetic and historical significance to Victoria.

Why is it significant?

The Belcher Drinking Fountain is architecturally significant as a rare and intact example of an early imported cast iron drinking fountain, which is still operating. The structure is a representative example of iron work produced by Andrew Handyside and Co, accomplished iron founders from Derby, England. The design of the fountain is important for artistic reasons relating to its derivation from a Classical inspired Monument of Lysicrates at Athens, Greece.

The Belcher Drinking Fountain is historically significant as a representation of Temperance Movement activities that advocated the restriction or abolition of the use of alcoholic drinks. The fountain is also important for its association with George F. Belcher, who was a pioneer in the Geelong and Wimmera districts. He was sub-treasurer in Geelong, Vice-Consul for Norway and Sweden and Mayor of Geelong on two occasions.

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    • Permit Exemptions

      BELCHER 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.

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