Grey Street Fountain

The fountain opposite Grey Street on the east side of the Fitzroy Gardens and known simply as the "Grey Street" fountain is one of the oldest fountains to be found in Melbourne Gardens. It was first commenced in 1863 under the direction of C. Hodgkinson, the Assistant Commissioner of Lands and Survey, and the concept incorporated a pool 100 feet (30.5 m) long and a central cluster of rocks, from the midst of which water was thrown up to a height of nearly 50 feet in a solid jet.

The pond was filled with little islands planted with aquatic plants and Sydney couch grass.

The well known landmark survived a demolition proposed in 1968 when a widespread demonstration of public support for the fountain ensured its future survival.

River God Fountain

River God fountain was one of the first major pieces of statuary in the gardens.

A figure of a man on bended knee bearing an open clam shell on his shoulders formed the central feature of the fountain which was erected in the Fitzroy Gardens in 1862. The figure of the River God was designed and cast in concrete by the sculptor, Charles Summers.

It remained in the gardens for nearly a century until it was replaced by the Fountain of the Birds in 1960. In 1996 after nearly forty years absence, the River God figure was renovated, the fountain was rebuilt, not in its original position but at the north end of the gardens at the junction of paths facing south.

Temple of the Winds

The "Temple of the Winds" rotunda is located north west of the kiosk and was constructed in 1873 under Bickford's curatorship. The building consists of a domed concrete roof supported by ten Corinthian columns. The temple was erected by Thomas Julian and Co. at a cost of 75. It is very similar in conception to the "Temple of the Winds" dedicated to Governor LaTrobe and erected by William Guilfoyle in the Botanical Gardens. Both temples are composed at 10 columns instead of the normal 8 or 12 which are more easily divisible by the four points of the compass.