Whispering Wall, otherwise known as the Barossa Reservoir, is approximately 1 hours drive from Adelaide in the Barossa Valley, near the township of Williamstown.
Many Adelaideans will remember visiting this iconic destination as children mostly for the novelty value. The wall is aptly named ‘Whispering Wall’ because of its parabola effect – voices can be heard from one end of the wall to the other, which is quite amazing considering the length of the curved wall is 140m from one end to the other!
Whispering Wall is actually the Barossa Reservoir which was completed in 1902, to supply the northern townships of Gawler and northern country areas. It was the first arch dam in Australia and also the highest.
Today, visitors can walk along the top of the wall and whisper to whoever can hear at the other end. Remember to only say nice things as they will hear every word you say (or whisper).
For those who have a fear of heights, although there are railings along the length of the wall, it can be a little daunting as there is a reservoir on one side and a steep drop on the other. Thankfully the railings are quite high on either side along the whole way.
There are stairs at each end which lead to a fenced viewing area. This is the spot where you can whisper or talk to people at the other end of the wall.
There is a large carpark and toilet facilities available. There is also a grassy area if you are keen to stop for a picnic.
Things to consider:
- The wall is huge and there is a large body of water nearby so all children must be closely supervised at all times.
- Be aware that there is a large drop on one side of the reservoir, so people who are afraid of heights may find this a challenging visit.
Location:
Whispering Wall Road, Williamstown. Open Daily 8am-6pm.
EXPLORE MORE RESERVOIRS IN SA
For more information and all enquiries please visit the Reservoirs SA website.
At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.
Image Source: all photos by Play & Go 2020 / 2021
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