Memorial drinking fountains

In earlier times, it was possible for a Melbourne City councillor to erect monuments to himself and members of his family in public places.

Prime examples of this are the memorial drinking fountains erected by Councillor George Ievers (1845-1921) in various parts of Carlton and Parkville.

Members of the Ievers family represented Smith Ward on the Melbourne City Council for 40 years. The first member of the family to gain that position was George’s brother William, who was elected in 1881. He unfortunately died in a rowing accident in 1901.

The vacant position on the council created by his death was contested and won by his father William Senior, who held it until his death in 1901. It was then filled by second son George until his death in 1921.

In 1915 George had a memorial drinking fountain erected in Rathdowne St, Carlton, at Macarthur Square, dedicated to his deceased brother. The following year he had a similar fountain erected at the corner of Royal Parade and Gatehouse St in Parkville, presented by him to the citizens of Smith Ward for having returned him unopposed as their representative since 1901. In 1919 he had a third memorial fountain erected in Argyle Square, Carlton, dedicated to the memory of his father (see photo).

Apart from these three drinking fountains, the family also left their mark on Carlton and Parkville in the form of an Ievers Street, Ievers Place and Ievers Terrace. There was also a Mount Ievers, the substantial home of George’s parents in Royal Parade, Parkville (which was demolished in the mid-1970s).

George Ievers was a prominent local citizen, a justice of the peace, and on the board of a number of charitable organisations. He was also a long-time member of the Carlton Football Club, and in 1918 presented the club with a momento commemorating his 50 years as a member of the club. This was a photograph of himself and the words of six of the songs that he had written about the Carlton club over the years.

He is also recorded as having performed a song that he had written at the Patriotic Welcome Home Concert in the Carlton Hall in December 1900 for men from Carlton who had recently returned from the Boer War in South Africa.

In July 1921, George Ievers collapsed during a heated debate in the Melbourne council chambers over the banning of the St Patrick's Day and Eight Hour Day procession. Five days later he died, aged 76. •