Historical information

This fountain was created as the result of a bequest from Ballarat businessman Carsten Heinrich Petersen who was killed at the age of eighty-five years when crossing Sturt Street opposite the Base Hospital. On the other side of the street were three brick shops which he owned. The fountain has four bronze frog water spouts beneath four marble stork spouts. Above the top bowl is another stork in bronze with its wings spread and water issues from its outstretched beak.
The Petersen Fountain has been restored many times, first in 1977 with funds provided by the Rotary Club of Ballarat South. In 1989 further restoration works were completed to replace bronze frogs and a brass and copper stork made by Ballarat craftsman Lloyd Lusk to replace the original bird which was stolen and never recovered. The second stork was also stolen on the 3rd of August 1983 and further repairs of the fountain were carried out in 1993.

Significance

The artwork is of historical and aesthetic significance to the people of Ballarat.

Physical description

The Petersen Fountain is carved marble, features storks carved into its base and the faces of cherubs in the bowl. It has a copper crane perched at the top and bronze frogs surrounding that spray water. The fountain stands on a granite base.

Inscriptions & markings

PRESENTED/ BY/ C.H. PETERSEN/ BORN IN DENMARK 2nd MARCH 1836/ DIED BALLAARAT 9 FEBRUARY 1922