Water Features and Fountains in Perth

Visit the Malaga showroom to see the display models running, listen to how each one sounds in the open air, and talk through pump options with us before you decide. Ask us about Perth delivery when you have chosen.

Two ways to bring running water into the garden

Moving water gives a courtyard, an alfresco area or a commercial entry something to listen to as well as something to look at. There are two ways to go about it, and we are happy to talk you through both.

• Self-contained plug-and-go units: Most of the display models in the showroom carry their own reservoir. Level the base on pavers or decking, fill the reservoir with water, sit the pump in it and plug into a standard weatherproof 240V outdoor power outlet. No plumber, no trenching, no mains connection.
• Custom workshop conversions: When a courtyard niche or a particular garden layout calls for different proportions, we build water features to order in our Malaga workshop. We core-drill stone bowls, Atlantis clay urns or fibreglass troughs, then fit internal risers, spillways and submersible pumps to suit the space and the sound you are after. Purpose-built urn and bowl water features in the range include the Atlantis Urn Water Feature, Atlantis 3 Urns Water Feature, Classical Urn Water Feature, Stacked Stone Large Water Feature, and the Utah Water Feature 85x90. The Made-to-Order Double Bowl Water Feature and Diamond Water Feature are built as custom configurations. If you would rather convert a vessel yourself, browse our garden urns and Atlantis planters collections.

Choosing by sound and by setting

Fountains differ a good deal in how loud they are and how far they throw a splash, which is usually what settles the choice:

• Gentle bubbling urns and reflection pools: The Positino Water Feature, Contemporary Bowl Water Feature, Dimple Fountain, Nest Water Feature and Goni Cimstone Water Feature make a soft trickle rather than a rush. They suit enclosed courtyards and outdoor dining tables, where you want the sound in the background and conversation in front of it.
• Mid-scale cascades and bowl fountains: The Low Bowl 110 Water Feature, Low Bowl 850 Fountain, Low Bowl Double Water Feature 150, Tall Bell Water Feature, Tall Dimple Water Feature and Courtyard Fountain move more water and hold their own in an open garden or beside a pool, where a quiet trickle would be lost.
• Cascading and multi-spout fountains: Multi-tiered designs such as the 4 Spout Water Feature Including Pump, Waverley Water Feature, Rome Water Feature and Millstone Water Feature give you a fuller, multi-tonal sound that covers traffic, air conditioning units and neighbourhood noise.

Matching the pump to the feature

Two numbers decide the pump: flow velocity and head height. Flow velocity is how much water moves through the system, which shapes both the sound and the way the water spills across a bowl lip or a millstone face. Head height is the vertical distance the pump lifts water from the reservoir to the highest outlet, and it grows with every extra riser or tier. Too small a pump starves a multi-spout cascade; too large a one throws water past the catchment and drains the reservoir. We size pumps against both figures on every custom build, and we are glad to do the same for a pump you are replacing.

How they handle Perth conditions

Our fountains use UV-stable materials, sealed finishes and powder-coated or marine-grade fixings, so colours hold through long summers instead of chalking out. Perth scheme water is hard, and over time it leaves mineral marks on spillways and dark stone faces, so a textured or lighter finish hides the tidemark better and a periodic wipe-down keeps it looking fresh. Beside a pool, where glare bounces off the water most of the day, paler finishes stay comfortable to look at. Bed the base dead level on paving so the water sheets evenly on every side. On timber decking, keep in mind that a filled feature is heavy; if the deck is old or spans a long way, have your builder confirm it is up to the load. A sheltered courtyard holds the sound beautifully, while an exposed, windy spot suits a lower, wider design that will not blow its splash across the paving.

Summer top-ups and pump care

Through a Perth summer, hot dry easterlies and 40°C days pull water out of an open bowl quickly, and a wide spillway can drop several centimetres in a single afternoon. If the level falls below the pump intake grid, the pump draws air, runs dry and overheats. It is the single most common reason a fountain stops working.

Keep an eye on the reservoir over the warm months and top it up, or fit a mechanical float valve plumbed off the garden drip irrigation so it tops up on its own. Rinse the filter sponge and intake grid every few months to clear leaf litter and grit, and drain and clean out the reservoir at the start of each season. We buy all our submersible pumps from Western Australian distributors, so replacement impellers, filter sponges and manufacturer support are close at hand.

For a custom build, a project you are working through, or advice on replacing a pump, come and see us at the Malaga showroom or contact our Malaga team. We deliver across the Perth metro area and can help with freight to regional WA.

Common questions

Are all water features plug-and-go?

Most of the display models are self-contained, so you can set them up yourself without a plumber. We also build made-to-order water features from our pot and urn ranges in the Malaga workshop if you want something sized to a particular spot.

Do water features include the circulation pump?

It depends on the model. The 4 Spout Water Feature Including Pump comes with a matched pump. Other vessels let you choose a pump to suit the flow velocity and head height you want. We supply pumps from Western Australian distributors for every set-up, and we will help you pick the right one.

Where is the best place to position a water feature in a Perth courtyard?

Put it where you will actually hear it, usually within a few metres of seating or an open doorway, and back it against a wall or dense planting that throws the sound into the space rather than away from it. Keep it out from under deciduous trees, which drop leaves into the reservoir and block the pump inlet. Stay within reach of a weatherproof outdoor power outlet, and leave a little clearance behind for getting at the pump.

Can water features be placed on timber decking or tiled balconies?

Yes. Self-contained units hold their water in a sealed reservoir, which makes them straightforward on timber decks and tiled verandas. A filled feature is heavy, though, so on a balcony or rooftop check the floor rating before you fill it, and on a suspended slab or an older deck have your builder confirm the load. Tell us where it is going and we will point you to the designs that suit.

What maintenance is required to prevent algae and scale buildup?

Keep fallen leaves and other debris off the pump inlet screen. Every so often, run the pump in a bucket of dilute white vinegar to lift the mineral scale that hard Perth scheme water leaves behind, and use a non-toxic water feature clarifier to hold back algae without harming visiting birds or pets.

Can I convert an existing garden pot or urn into a fountain?

Yes. We regularly core-drill and plumb pots, bowls and urns from our collection into working water features, fitting internal risers, spillways and submersible pumps to suit the space. Atlantis terracotta urns and the fibreglass vessels in our garden urns collection convert particularly well. Bring in the piece or the details and we will talk through what is involved.

How do I choose between a gentle bubbling fountain and a multi-spout cascade?

Go with a gentle bubbling urn or reflection pool in an enclosed courtyard or dining area, where a soft trickle sits under conversation rather than over it. Go with a multi-spout cascade or a millstone in an open garden, around a pool or in a street-facing courtyard, where you want the water to cover traffic noise or a neighbour's air conditioning unit. Both are running in the Malaga showroom, so the easiest way to decide is to stand in front of them.