For anyone planning to spend some time in Adelaide I suggest you take the time to visit The Whispering Wall, which is a great little stopover when visiting the Barossa Valley our premier wine region.

Work on the dam commenced in 1899 and was completed in 1903. The design was so new it even made the Yanks sit up and take notice. At a height of 36 meters and length of 144 meters it was remarkable for the time, but although the wall offers great views of the Barossa Reservoir and surrounding area that is not what makes it one of the most visited attraction in South Australia.

The thing that makes the Whispering Wall so popular is its unique acoustic effects that allow you to whisper at one end, and have your friend hear your whisper 144 meters away. If you were to continue the dam it would form a perfect circle and it’s the perfect curve of the dam wall that bounces the sound waves, along the wall.

The Whispering Wall
Stands strong and firm
For many years its waters held
Many a word it has heard

A lover’s promise
A villain’s curse
A child’s laughter
A bully’s boast

Yet careful you must be
What one end says
The other end hears
No secret does it hold dear

Follow this link if you would like to learn more about the Whispering Wall.

Make my day and shout me a beer.

Small though it may be, Adelaide hosts it’s very own China Town complete with Pogoda Style Roofs and Red Lanterns. It’s really quite impressive when you stand at either of the entrances, for there are two, and I always love the feeling of awe as I walk under the pergoda style arches under the watchful eyes of the marble lions.

Although once you step into Chinatown you are not completely transferred to a traditional Chinese town, the many Chinese stores are a welcome change from traditional Adelaide. Don’t get me wrong, I love Adelaide and it’s places like Chinatown that give it a character of it’s own.

Located on Moonta St it has two pairs of Imperial guardian lions donated by the People’s Republic of China guarding the entrances at Grote and Gouger Streets.

Chinese restaurants, grocery stores and markets make up the majority of our Chinatown and small though it may be it adds a bit of character to our delightful city.

Make my day and shout me a beer.

While it is true that Adelaide is known as the “City Of Churches”, and that we do have a lot of churches, the reason for the name is because of our history as a free settlers state, one which allowed all religions and ethnic groups. For that reason Adelaide has a variety of temples, churches and synagogues. We were also the only state never to have convicts and probably our only mistake was that we were the first state to allow women the right to vote. :D

I thought it only fitting to have a category just for the various more picturesque churches. Where best to start than St. Peter’s Cathedral which is located on the corner of King William Rd and Pennington Tce. North Adelaide. Although the foundation stone was laid on St’ Peter’s Day 29th June 1869 it wasn’t completed until 1901.

As an Anglican church of note is was built in the Gothic style and almost reminds one of the Notre Dame of Paris. It really looks quite spectacular at night and I will try to post a night shot as soon as I take one. ;)

Make my day and shout me a beer.

I like this particular view of the Roma Mitchell Law Court Building which sits on 3 Angas St. at the end of Victoria Square. At a cost of $96 million it was designed by Mariano Deuonni of Hassell LTD. It houses the Federal, Family and Federal Magistrates courts and will accommodate the High Court on those occasions that it comes down to South Australia.

You can see a few more pictures and more detailed information at architecture.com.au.

Make my day and shout me a beer.

If you were to walk through Rundle Mall, don’t be surprised if you were to come across four very life like bronze pigs. Marguerite Derricourt, their sculptor did a remarkable job and they have become quite an attraction for our visitors.

There is Oliver who is forever foraging for food.

Then there is Horatio, the sitting pig in the background that is begging for food.

Augusta is forever giving the kids rides.

And of course let’s not forget Truffles who is always just standing around like a typical council worker. Damn me if I didn’t forget to snap a shot of him. Or could it be because he flew the coup, but then pigs don’t fly do they?

There was a time in days gone by
When men were men and pigs didn’t fly
Now many women profess to say
These days are gone and men must pay

For all the times they raised the ceiling
That left the women’s senses reeling
For every time he forgot to open the door
And for the times she was left wanting more

For every occasion he left the toilet seat up
Because he never learnt to wash his own cup
The fact that the poor soul did confess
When asked, “Does my butt look big in this dress?”

For every anniversary he did forget
And every time he got her upset
Like when Valentines Day did not come
Because he was at the pub with his chum

So I am warning all you men out there
If you know one you better say a prayer
Because women have had it up to here
And all we will be left with is our beer

But shit, that’s cool because beer’s real good
And maybe the problem women never understood
Is that men are men until they die
And pigs will never learn to fly.

I just thought I would throw in that poem by an unknown Aussie Poet.

Make my day and shout me a beer.