The Eagle Street Drinking Fountain is 130 years old this year

The Eagle Street Drinking Fountain was completed in 1880 as part of a Council beautification project.  The then Municipal Council funded the majority of the work and the remainder of the funds required was raised by public subscription.  However, there was confusion as to the original purpose of the fountain, as donations were also being sought around the same time for a memorial to James Mooney, a young volunteer fireman who died in 1877 in the line of duty.

Although an official Mooney memorial was erected above his grave in Toowong Cemetery, the Eagle Street Drinking Fountain became inextricably linked with the young fireman.

  Mooney Memorial Fountain, 1879.  Image No: 108572

In 1988, Brisbane City Council gave official recognition to an important part of Brisbane folklore, adding a tablet honouring James Mooney and other firemen who have died in the line of duty.

  Eagle St., ca. 1895.  Image No. 6418-0001-0002

You can see more images of the Eagle Street Drinking Fountain on our One Search catalogue. Other collection items of interest relating to the topic include a framed oil painting by Simone Azzopardi depicting the fountain as it was in 1970 and a monograph by E. L. Richards titled The Myth of the Mooney Memorial Fountain published by the Brisbane City Council in 1987.