John Baptist Fountain

John Thomas Baptist (1804-1873) emigrated from Portugal to Australia, arriving in Sydney in 1829. He was employed by Captain Charles Wilson, new director of public works in NSW. When his employer went insolvent 18 months later, Baptist formed a partnership with ex-convict Ned Shackley, who had worked in the Royal Botanic Garden. The pair opened a butcher’s shop and by 1837 were also selling vegetables from a market garden that Baptist established. Baptist expanded this business and gradually built up his nursery, which he named The Gardens.

The Gardens, 16 hectares of nursery and market gardens on Bourke Street, Redfern, were a significant horticultural contribution to the colony as well as the first pleasure gardens. They gradually became the "show grounds of Sydney" to which Sydneysiders flocked at weekends when they were open to the public. On weekdays The Gardens had a more utilitarian value as market gardens, nursery-supplier of seeds, plants, shrubs, and trees of immense variety and a source of cut flowers. By 1860, according to the Sydney Mail, they had become "a horticultural institution within this city" and "a popular resort for Sunday picnickers". It was here that the John Baptist Fountain was first erected by the 1860s, although its artist and date of manufacture is unknown.

After Baptist’s death, his son, John Baptist junior, continued to operate and develop the Baptist Gardens for some years. Finally, however he subdivided the Gardens and sold them off in lots at public auction. It was at this time that one of the garden’s other fountains and its gates were donated to Redfern Park, where they survive today. Large collections of plants were also given to the Royal Botanic Gardens.

In 1884, the fountain was donated by John Baptist junior to the trustees of Hyde Park. It was installed in Hyde Park north in 1888 for the centenary of European settlement.

The inscription is on a bronze plaque, inlaid on the wall of the fountain:

The John Baptist Fountain was first installed to the east of the main avenue of Hyde Park north. In 1912 it was damaged by tree roots and in the early 1920s it was moved to its current location.

Significant restoration work was undertaken between 2010 and 2012.

The City of Sydney worked closely with the descendants of John Baptist, garden historians, stonemasons and conservators to bring the fountain back to its earliest known condition. This work made it an operating garden water feature once again.

The fountain centrepiece was meticulously restored, including re-carving of the clamshell top and the carp that flank its base. Works included:

• moving the fountain slightly away from tree roots
• reconstructing the stone basin to match the original design and construction technique
• installing a new pump system.

Pavement inserts indicate the fountain’s previous locations.

The conservation team included International Conservation Services, Civil Constructions Pty Ltd, heritage consultant Colleen Morris, traditional stonemasons Central Feature Carving and plaques from Central Foundry.