Barossa Reservoir
Encyclopedia
Barossa Reservoir is a reservoir in South Australia
, built between 1899 and 1902 to supply water to Gawler
and other northern country areas. At the time of its completion, the reservoir was hailed as an engineering marvel, and at a total of 36 metres, was the highest in Australia
. The thin arch of the dam retaining wall, curved against the pressure of the water, was an innovation considered radical, and attracted the Reservoir international attention. It was featured in the Scientific American
and caused the American Engineers News to remark that its "boldness of design deserves to rank with the most famous dams in the world". Nowadays, the dam is notable for its parabola
effect, where a voice can be heard clearly from one side to the other — over 140 metres, end to end. This unusual acoustic phenomenon is a popular tourist attraction, and has earned the dam the title "Whispering Wall" (see Whispering gallery
).
The Barossa Reservoir was formed by damming the Yettie Creek gorge in the northern Mount Lofty Ranges
, a feat that took over 400 men. Its water comes through a two-kilometre tunnel, carved by horse power, from the South Para River
and Reservoir
, and is supplemented by the Warren Reservoir and the River Murray
. In addition to Gawler and country, a new filtration plant allows the Reservoir to supply the Munno Para
and Elizabeth
areas. The dam's vegetated surrounds are also protected.
Aside from its Acoustic attraction, the Whispering Wall offers great views of both the Barossa Reservoir and the surrounding, well-preserved natural bounty. The area abounds in thick scrub, tall red gums, and pines, and a flourishing bird and animal life. It is a popular destination for picnics, bird-watching, fishing, and bush-walking.
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, built between 1899 and 1902 to supply water to Gawler
Gawler, South Australia
Gawler is the first country town in the state of South Australia, and is named after the second Governor of the colony of South Australia, George Gawler. It is located north of the centre of the state capital, Adelaide, and is close to the major wine producing district of the Barossa Valley...
and other northern country areas. At the time of its completion, the reservoir was hailed as an engineering marvel, and at a total of 36 metres, was the highest in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The thin arch of the dam retaining wall, curved against the pressure of the water, was an innovation considered radical, and attracted the Reservoir international attention. It was featured in the Scientific American
Scientific American
Scientific American is a popular science magazine. It is notable for its long history of presenting science monthly to an educated but not necessarily scientific public, through its careful attention to the clarity of its text as well as the quality of its specially commissioned color graphics...
and caused the American Engineers News to remark that its "boldness of design deserves to rank with the most famous dams in the world". Nowadays, the dam is notable for its parabola
Parabola
In mathematics, the parabola is a conic section, the intersection of a right circular conical surface and a plane parallel to a generating straight line of that surface...
effect, where a voice can be heard clearly from one side to the other — over 140 metres, end to end. This unusual acoustic phenomenon is a popular tourist attraction, and has earned the dam the title "Whispering Wall" (see Whispering gallery
Whispering gallery
A whispering gallery is a gallery beneath a dome, vault, or enclosed in a circular or elliptical area in which whispers can be heard clearly in other parts of the building....
).
The Barossa Reservoir was formed by damming the Yettie Creek gorge in the northern Mount Lofty Ranges
Mount Lofty Ranges
The Mount Lofty Ranges are the range of mountains just to the east of Adelaide in South Australia.-Location and description:The Mount Lofty Ranges stretch from the southernmost point of the Fleurieu Peninsula at Cape Jervis northwards for over before petering out north of Peterborough...
, a feat that took over 400 men. Its water comes through a two-kilometre tunnel, carved by horse power, from the South Para River
South Para River
The South Para River is a river in Australia. It rises in the Mount Lofty Ranges near Mount Crawford and Kersbrook and flows northwest through the Mount Lofty Ranges, passing through the Warren Reservoir and the South Para Reservoir, before merging with the North Para River in Gawler forming the...
and Reservoir
South Para Reservoir
South Para Reservoir is the second largest reservoir in South Australia, behind Mount Bold Reservoir, and the principal reservoir of the South Para River system...
, and is supplemented by the Warren Reservoir and the River Murray
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
. In addition to Gawler and country, a new filtration plant allows the Reservoir to supply the Munno Para
Munno Para, South Australia
Munno Para is a northern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in the City of Playford.-History:In the local Kaurna dialect, Munno Para means golden wattle creek....
and Elizabeth
Elizabeth, South Australia
Elizabeth is a northern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in the City of Playford.-History:Elizabeth was established in 1955 as part of a planned satellite town by the South Australian Housing Trust on rural land between the older towns of Salisbury and...
areas. The dam's vegetated surrounds are also protected.
Aside from its Acoustic attraction, the Whispering Wall offers great views of both the Barossa Reservoir and the surrounding, well-preserved natural bounty. The area abounds in thick scrub, tall red gums, and pines, and a flourishing bird and animal life. It is a popular destination for picnics, bird-watching, fishing, and bush-walking.
- Capacity: 4,515 megalitres
- Length of wall: 144 m
- Height of wall: 36 m
- depth at wall: 28.6 m
- Type of wall: Concrete arch