It was built in 1886 as a memorial to a Governor of Ooty,[1] who was very famous in the region during his tenure.
But it was later decided that the site in front of the District collector's office in Ooty was a better place as it had more passersby.
After building the fountain, it was discovered that the site needed the waterhead to function correctly.
It was finally moved to its present location in Charring Cross in 1898.
An old melanoxylon tree, which stood in the site of the present location of the fountain, considered a landmark in Charring Cross, was removed for the fountain's construction.