Captain Cook Memorial Fountain, Canberra 2014

In Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, close to Commonwealth Park, is the Captain Cook Memorial Fountain, often called the Captain Cook Memorial Jet.

Named after British explorer and navigator, James Cook (1728-1779), who sailed to the Pacific Ocean and traversed the eastern coastline of Australia, a bronze globe on the shoreline of the lake shows his voyages. Cook also circumnavigated New Zealand and sailed to the Hawaiian Islands, where he was killed on his third voyage. On his voyages, he took botanists, geologists, geographers, and various professionals, who all recorded a great amount of scientific and geographical knowledge.

Queen Elizabeth II inaugurated the memorial jet on April 25, 1970. Water is reticulated from the lake and pumped into a tube and forced through the jet. About 250 litres of water per second is pushed through a nozzle at 260 kilometres per hour – and about six tons of water is seen. There are actually two pumps operated by 560 kilowatt electric motors. If the two pumps are operating, the water can reach a height of 147 metres. If one pump is operating the water reaches a height of 110 metres. The pumps can be controlled manually or automatically.

The jet currently operates from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, but times vary depending on seasons. It can be seen for many kilometres.

MARTINA NICOLLSis an international aid and development consultant, and the authorof:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom(2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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