Roundabout Fountain

Designers: Geoff Parr, Vere Cooper, Rod Cuthbert (1963)

Hobart’s Space-Age Landmark

Have you ever wondered why Hobart has a flying saucer in the middle of a roundabout?

Step into one of Hobart’s most unexpected pieces of mid-century design and discover the story behind the city’s iconic Railway Roundabout Fountain.

Designed in the early 1960s by three young designers from the Cadbury factory in Claremont, Geoff Parr, Vere Cooper and Rod Cuthbert, the fountain was the winning entry in a competition to create a striking new centrepiece for the city. It opened in February 1963, bringing a distinctly space-age vision to Hobart at a time when optimism about the future was shaping design, technology and popular culture.

Look closely and you’ll see the influence of the Space Age in its futuristic form, sweeping curves, fins and central spire. Originally, 120 water jets and 92 coloured lights transformed the fountain after dark, creating a spectacular display for people arriving in Hobart.

After falling into disrepair, the fountain was carefully restored in 2012–13, with new hydraulic and lighting systems bringing it back to life for its 50th anniversary.

Come and have a look at this remarkable piece of 1960s design, discover the story of the young Tasmanians who created it, and see how a futuristic vision from more than 60 years ago continues to be part of Hobart’s everyday landscape.

Open: Sat 7 Nov, 10.00am –  4.00pm