Honouring the faded fountain of life in seedy Kings Cross

Posted 7th July 2010

In Australia it has long been a tourist attraction, meeting place and silent witness to the seedy goings on in Sydney's Kings Cross.

It has even played backdrop for the TV series, Underbelly: The Golden Mile.

Now the El Alamein fountain, a focal point in the red-light district since 1961, is set to join the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House on the state heritage list.

In its draft listing, the NSW Heritage Branch gives a vivid description of the fountain's history: "By night it has been the haunt of people visiting the Kings Cross red-light district. During the 1980s it became a notorious haunt of male prostitutes and their clients."

The fountain was built as a memorial to the Australian soldiers of the 9th Division, who fought near the Egyptian town of El Alamein in two bloody World War II battles.

Rotary Club of Kings Cross spokesman Warwick Nelson said he welcomed the push to formally recognise the cultural significance of the fountain.

"It is iconic, not only in Sydney but right across the country," Mr Nelson said.

"I think it is the symbol that people automatically associates with the Cross. There are council plans to refurbish the fountain and the park and we definitely welcome that."

A heritage listing, expected to be processed by the end of the year, would be a tribute to architect Bob Woodward, who died in February.

Mr Woodward designed fountains across the globe, including the Darling Harbour feature, NSW Parliament House fountain and the Expo 70 fountain in Osaka, Japan.

Sydney City Council has put out a tender to refurbish the fountain, which is made from stainless steel with bronze pipes and nozzled spray heads.

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