Peacock Fountain

Settlement organised by the Canterbury Association started in December 1850, so the Peacocks were in the colony at a very early stage.

A Coalbrookdale fountain was agreed upon, to bear the following inscription:[2] Erected by the Christchurch Beautifying Association from funds bequeathed by the late Hon.

It was first located in the Botanic Gardens adjacent to where the Robert McDougall Art Gallery was later built, but was moved to the Archery lawn a few years later.

The head of the Canterbury College School of Art, Robert Herdman Smith, stated in a letter to the Press in 1911 that "it exhibited no more taste than the gaudy decoration used by travelling showmen to embellish their merry go-rounds.

The restored fountain, with a new colour scheme (again controversial), was recommissioned by Cr Margaret Murray and Mayor Vicki Buck on 26 May 1996 to the south of Canterbury Museum, now in its third location.