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Formby Fountain

One hundred and forty years ago, a drinking

fountain cast by McFarlane’s of Scotland, and

shipped all the way to Port Adelaide, was unveiled

on North Parade by then Mayor, John Mitchell

Sinclair. A ‘public subscription’ had raised money

for the fountain, as a nod to John Formby –

prominent local businessman and Mayor of Port

Adelaide from 1870 1873.

The unveiling on May 27, 1876, took place with

much fan-fair and earned lengthy prose in the

South Australian Advertiser.

John Formby was well-regarded for his services as

Mayor, his business acumen and his contribution

to the local community.

He arrived in Port Adelaide, on a ship he owned,

from his native Liverpool in 1840 at the age of just

21. Eight years later he married Mary Ann Hollow

– and some sources of history report him having

fathered 13 children.

He founded “John Formby and Son, Customs

and Shipping Agents” in Lipson Street and was

Chairman of Port Adelaide Football Club from

1880-1892.

Over more than a century, the Formby Fountain

was moved to various locations around Port

Adelaide, and withstood, well, the ravages

of time. That is until 2014 when because of

extensive cracking and corrosion, and to ensure

its preservation, it was put on permanent loan to

the Port Adelaide Historical Society Museum, on

Fletcher Road, Peterhead.

A replica was cast by Billmans Foundry in Victoria

– and has been placed outside what is now the

Port Adelaide Police Station.

John Formby died in his home at Alberton

on October 1, 1906 and he was buried at the

Alberton Cemetery, now known as Pioneer Park.

For a step back in time, visit the Formby Fountain

- a lasting memorial to a man who played an

important role in Port Adelaide’s history.

100 Years of History

Reflecting on newspaper stories

from our past

Shipping in war

“The greatest fleet of ships ever seen in South Australia

berthed in Port Adelaide in 1942. It was the giant convoy

which brought the A.I.F. back from the Middle East….

In March, April, and May 1942, 73 troopships and two

hospital ships berthed at the Port … 32,932 personnel

disembarked here and more than 50,000 tons of war

material was loaded. At the same time harbor staff and

wharf labourers handled all the interstate ships that

were in the port. The work went on 24 hours a day,

in the greatest shipping rush in Port Adelaide’s history.

Every berth was occupied. Often big overseas ships

were moored two abreast, sending ashore an endless

stream of men, vehicles, guns, ammunition, and other

war supplies…. There was not a hitch. Not a single vessel

was held at the anchorage waiting for a berth. A few

weeks later, the same scenes again when American troops

poured ashore, to use Australia as the jumping off place

for the war in the Pacific.”

By 'The News' Skipping Reporter, August 31, 1945

U.S men think our women are beautiful

'American soldiers think South Australian women are

beautiful, and regard Australian soldiers as a fine bunch of

men. Americans, who have been entertained by the Port

Adelaide Cheer-up Society, told the secretary (Mr. Jonas)

this in a letter of appreciation.'

The News, May 7, 1942

The recently installed Formby Fountain replica on the

corner of Lipson St and St Vincent St

Below: Adelaide, SA. 14 March 1942. The troop train conveying

troops of the 7th Australian Division to Adelaide after their

disembarkation at Port Adelaide on their return from the Middle East.