Related: Bendigo's 'lost' fountain unveiled
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Work begins today to restore a fountain by Bendigo’s most renowned architect after more than a century in which it lay in pieces scattered across the city.
The re-installation of the Vahland Drinking Fountain in Bull Street began a day after the City of Greater Bendigo launched an app to celebrate the legacy of of William Charles Vahland and a week after it voted to rename part of Bull Street in honour of the architect.
City place manager Phil DeAraugo said site works would include removing asphalt in the centre of the road where the drinking fountain will be erected.
“Screw pile foundations will go in and a concrete slab will be poured to provide a base for the fountain pieces,” Mr DeAraugo said.
“There will be restricted access to this section of Bull Street and no access to the parking in the area during construction.”
The fountain was constructed in 1881 and was one of three fountains in central Bendigo designed by Vahland.
The drinking fountain was originally located at the corner of Bridge Street and Pall Mall, now known as Howard Place.
In the early 1900s it was dismantled to make way for a new statue and pieces of the fountain were placed in various locations across Bendigo.
A fundraising campaign to restore the Drinking Fountain was launched in July last year.
“This project is very different to most construction projects, as it requires specialised craftspeople to remake several pieces by hand and then fit them onsite with the remaining original pieces,” Mr DeAraugo said.
“This means that it will take a little bit longer than normal, but the outcome will be spectacular.”
Contributions to the fountain restoration project can be made at any Bendigo Bank branch in Bendigo or online at http://www.bendigobank.com.au/vahland
The restored Drinking Fountain is expected to be unveiled in October 2016.