Whispering Wall

About Us

The Whispering Wall is open from 9am - 5pm (6pm in daylight saving) and not open in total fire bans days, catastrophic fire days, and sometimes not open on extreme fire danger days. Check the CFS website for ratings. The Whispering Wall is in fact the retaining wall of the Barossa Reservoir. Built between 1899 and 1903, the dam was a revolutionary engineering feat for its day and attracted attention from all over the world, even making its way into the pages of the journal Scientific American. But what draws visitors to the Whispering Wall is its unique acoustic effects: words whispered at one side can be clearly heard at the other, more than 100 metres away. Children in particular love visiting the wall and testing its abilities. Besides trying out the Whispering Wall, visitors can also learn about the history of the construction of the dam, take in the scenery of the water reserve and enjoy the colours and sounds of the peaceful bush setting. To visit the Whispering Wall, travel to Williamstown in the Barossa Valley and follow the signposts from the main street. Come into the Barossa Visitor Centre for a brochure on the Whispering Wall.