Bucket Fountain

1969

Graham Allardice

Burren & Keen

Accessible

Type

  • Fountain

Medium

  • Metal (unspecified)
  • Plastic
  • Concrete
  • Fountain/water feature mechanism

Dimensions

  • H7500mm x L13,280 x W5000mm

Burren & Keen (firm) with Graham Allardice, ‘Bucket Fountain’ (1969), Cuba Mall, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

Image: Bronwyn Holloway-Smith, Public Art Heritage Aotearoa New Zealand, 2022

1969–Current

Cuba Mall (between Dixon and Ghuznee Sts), Te Aro, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

Artists
Organisations
Credit

Wellington City Council Art Collection

Associated Artwork Person(s)
Associated Artwork Organisation(s)

Description

Intended to be a temporary addition to the newly created Mall on Cuba Street the buckets, were at first, all yellow.

Water flows up the support structure into the red sphere at the top, then exits by three pipes. The fountain has been designed so that the water descends in orderly fashion, with each bucket emptying into the one below as it becomes full.

Designed by Graham Allardice and the planning firm Burren and Keen, the Bucket Fountain requires regular maintenance. Individual buckets are regularly stolen and returned, in the latest notable instance (2020-21) the bucket was returned painted gold.

We have found some accounts where the work is called the 'Sugar Shovel Fountain.' We would love to know if this was the original name, please get in touch if you know.

See also: