Gibbs Memorial Fountain

1956

Jim Allen (presumed)

Hidden (in storage)

Type

  • Fountain

Medium

  • Bronze

Dimensions

  • TBC

Jim Allen (presumed), ‘Gibbs Memorial Fountain’ (1956), Te Ngākau Civic Square, CBD, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

Image: Maribeth Coleman, Public Art and Publicly Accessible Art collection, 1996. Courtesy Wellington City Libraries. CC-BY-NC-ND 3.0

2023–Current

In storage

2012–2023

Outdoor seating area, north side of City Gallery near Harris Street, Te Ngākau Civic Square, CBD, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

2008–2012

In storage

1990–2008

Terracotta garden pool area, Civic Square, CBD, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

1956–1990

Lawn outside Wellington City Council Municipal Offices Building, Civic Centre, CBD, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

Artists
Associated Artwork Person(s)
    • David Gibbs (Donor)
Associated Artwork Organisation(s)

Description

This fountain sculpture comprises two dolphins and a Neptune head with fish-fin hair and seashell ears. Originally built in front of the Wellington City Council's Municipal Offices Building in 1956, the fountain has been moved twice: once during the redevelopment of Civic Square c.1990, and a second time in 2008 to make way for construction, eventually reinstated in 2012. It was removed and put in storage in 2023 during further redevelopment works to Civic Square and the Wellington Central Library.

A plaque that was originally on the rear of the fountain is also installed with the work. It reads:

"THE GIFT OF THE LATE DAVID JOHN GIBBS D.S.O.
ON BECOMING SOLDIERS WE HAVE NOT CEASED TO BE CITIZENS
A GIFT IS AS A PRECIOUS STONE IN THE EYES OF HIM THAT HATH IT”

Further text (added in 1991) reads:

"WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL

THE GARGOYLES AND THIS PLAQUE HAVE BEEN RELOCATED HERE FROM THEIR ORIGINAL POSITION IN FRONT OF THE MUNICIPAL OFFICE BUILDING TO THE TERRA COTTA GARDEN POOL AREA AS PART OF THE CIVIC CENTRE REDEVELOPMENT DECEMBER 1991”

The Wellington City Council Coat of Arms is also featured, although the moa’s head seems to have disappeared.

David John Gibbs (1883-1946) was a Wellington-born officer in the New Zealand Army. He served in WWI as a Field Engineer, and was initially posted to Samoa, but later joined the great war in Europe. He was made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) by the British military in 1918 for distinguished service in the field in France and Flanders, and gained several other medals and awards. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel/Military.

It is clear that Jim Allen was involved in early design stages for the fountain, and submitted a design and cost estimate in 1953. The dolphins and centrepiece were initially cast in concrete, but Allen was unhappy with the results, suggesting they be cast in bronze. It is unclear what happened from this point onwards, and whether Allen completed the final works, therefore we have listed the authorship as ‘Jim Allen (presumed)’ until further information comes to light.

Thanks to Gavin Kane for assisting with this research.

See also: