User:Pongiepam/sandbox/War Memorials - Port Melbourne

'''Port Melbourne Memorial Drink Fountain is built in the 1918, located in the corner of Beach and Stokes St. It is dedicated to all "who fell in the Great War" during the 1914-1918, especially to all the soldier in the first Australian Imperial Force (AIF) when the Australian Government sent its support for Britain. one of the War Memorials is taken the form of a drinking fountain, built out of white marble cupola on top of a granite basin locates on a bluestone plinth with two steps of bluestone base. The location of both the War Memorials Port Melbourne Memorial Drink is located near the Princes and station Pier, where all of the troops were sent the England during the Great War. Especially The Princes Pier, which was known as the New Railway Pier, was a major destination of departure and arrival of the Australian troop during the time. Port Melbourne now holds annual ANZAC Day Commemorative services. They also are holding different events through the year, such as War guided walks and the War Centenary.

Port Melbourne Memorial Drink Fountain


The memorial is in the form of a drinking fountain, built out of white marble cupola over a granite basin on a bluestone plinth on a two stepped bluestone base and with the white marble table is punctured into the bluestone block. As the fountain is not in used anymore, it resides near the pier as a monument and memorial of the First World War. The Marble part of this memorials has a strong classical language with its Doric pillars and the round marble cover. The layout of this fountain is symmetrical with these evenly distributed pillars and the offset of the bluestone steps from the square plinth in the Centre. The fine details of the marble structure is quite strong and give a sense of power. However it is quite soft with the smooth texture and colour of the round pillars and the dome. In contrast, the base is quite rough with the raw block of bluestone. As it is impossible to write on bluestone block, a marble tablet punctures in the middle of it. This also enhance the contrast in term of the materials and give it a little softness for the base.

architecture value
The dome is round but pointing up at the top with four pillars supporting it, enhance the idea of reaching out to heaven, reaching out to those “who fell in the Great War” and connecting them with their families through this drinking fountain. The white colour of the dome and the four pillars also metaphors for its purity and demonstrates its spiritual value. Furthermore the contrast between the blue stone and the marble top, depicts the hardship and sacrifices of the soldiers to exchange for the Victory and the end of WWI. These significances demonstrates the age value of the Drink Fountain. In the other hand, Marble and blue stone also deliver its present value through its ageless material characteristic and also commemorative value through the Inscription of the Marble tablets being punctured in the middle of the blue stone, “ERECTED BY THE MUNICIPALITY AND CITIZENS OF PORT MELBOURNE. IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918. FOR KING AND COUNTRY.”