2. Petersen Fountain 1922 Sculptor: unknown, Marble, granite, bronze, copper

In the median strip opposite the Ballarat Base Hospital on the corner of Sturt and Drummond Streets there is an ornamental fountain presented to the Ballarat City Council in December 1922. There are four bronze frog water spouts beneath four marble stork spouts. Above the top bowl is another stork in bronze with its wings spread and water issues from its outstretched beak. It is considered to be elegant and beautiful. The inscription reads: C.H. Petersen born in Schleswig, Denmark 2 March, 1838, died Ballarat 9 February, 1922.

Carsten Heinrich Petersen is buried in the Presbyterian Section of the Ballarat New Cemetery A 17 3, father of Henry, Will and George. His wife Dorothea Katharina Elisabeth ms Dankers was born in Holstein, Denmark c1842 and was buried in 1912 in the Ballarat Old Cemetery F1.14. 8 with her daughter, son and grandson.

Mr Petersen was killed at the age of eighty-five years when crossing Sturt Street opposite the Base Hospital. On the other side of the street were three brick shops which he owned. Under the terms of his will he left £400 to the Ballarat City Council for the erection of a drinking fountain in that block in Sturt Street as well as a marble statue. It was reported in the Argus (Melbourne, Victoria) on 4 Sep 1922 in the Country News for Ballarat & District that the money has now been received by council.

The Petersen Fountain was periodically vandalised and in 1977 it was restored by the Rotary Club of Ballarat South. The Ballarat Courier of the 20th of October 1989, showed monumental mason, Les Waight, cleaning the bronze frogs which would be slotted into a rim of marble covering the cement. Soon they would be joined by a brass and copper stork made by Ballarat craftsman Lloyd Lusk. The construction of the bird's shapely form and many copper feathers involved more than 200 hours of work for Mr Lusk. This would replace the original bird which was stolen and never recovered. The second stork was also stolen on the 3rd of August 1983 when the Ballarat City Council offered a reward of $250 for its return. Ballarat South Rotary Club again saw to the repair of the fountain in 1993. "25th year" on the plaque must be the anniversary of the Club.