Archibald Memorial Fountain

Archibald Memorial Fountain

The Archibald Fountain is located in Hyde Park north at the centre of Birubi Circle and at the intersection of the main avenues crossing the park. The fountain, by French sculptor Francois Sicard, commemorates the association between Australia and France in World War 1. It draws its themes from Greek antiquity and is an important example in Sydney of the classical revivalist sculpture of the 1920s and 1930s, known as Art Deco.

The fountain has state heritage significance, is around 18m in diameter and is in the shape of a hexagon. A bronze Apollo, the central raised figure standing around 6m high on a central pedestal, dominates the other mythical figures of Diana, Pan and the Minotaur. Behind Apollo a large arch of fine spray represents the rising sun and accentuates his dominant position. At Apollo’s feet, water sprays from horses’ heads into a series of 3 basins. Tortoises in the large hexagonal basin and dolphins in the middle one direct jets of water towards the centre.

Sicard chose a mythical theme to express his message through the medium of a fountain. Although commissioned to honour the association forged in war, the work was also built to look forward to peace and Sicard allowed this theme to dominate. Central to his design was Apollo giving life to all nature. Apollo was surrounded by 3 groups of figures, the first featuring Diana bringing harmony to the world, the second, Pan, watching over the fields and pastures and the third, Theseus, conquering the Minotaur, symbolic of sacrifice for the common good.