Torrens Weir

Click on the images to enlarge

The section of the River Torrens which I have featured in the past couple of posts is in fact a man made lake; the Torrens Lake. The concrete weir you see here was built in 1880-81 to hold back the water to create the lake.

This photo was taken during the summer and as you can see there is no flowing water; but after heavy rains it is a different scene. The sluice gates jammed in a flood in 1889. The weir was modified in 1928-29; now with sluice gates that can be fully opened to allow the river to flow unimpeded.

Popeye at Elder Park

This is Popeye's departure wharf at Elder Park. Upstream you can see the Adelaide Bridge; the main connector between the centre of the City and North Adelaide. The owners of Popeye also own a fleet of pedal boats, some of which you can see near the fountain.

A ride on Popeye or in the paddle boats; a must for tourists and residents alike!

Popeye on the Torrens

Whether you would like a sightseeing tour on the Torrens, or would like a ride the Adelaide Zoo, Popeye fits the bill. The Popeye fleet has been servicing Adelaide since 1935. The current three fibreglass boats were launched in 1982; replacements for the wooden boats that had served so well over the years.

This photo shows a Popeye cruising downstream from the Zoo back to its terminal at Elder Park.

It is about to pass under the University Footbridge. This bridge was built in 1937 to link the Adelaide University campus with its sportsfields and student accommodation across the river in North Adelaide.

The Whispering Wall

This dam wall has unique acoustical properties; you can stand and speak softly on one side of the 143 metre long wall and be clearly heard on the other side.

This is the Barossa Reservoir dam near the town of Williamstown, just north of Adelaide. Building started in 1899 and was completed in 1903. When it was built it was the largest dam in Australia and radical in its design.

Whispering Wall Mural

Click on the image to enlarge

In St Helen's Park on Prospect Road is the beautiful Whispering Wall mural created by Kaylie Weir. At a time when a lot of Adelaide's parks were parched and dry, this caught my eye; quite refreshing!

Kaylie was commissioned by the Prospect Council to paint a series of public murals in an effort to cut down graffiti tagging.

This public park has barbecue facilities, a drinking fountain, a rotunda, play equipment and seating areas.

ABC Wednesdays - K for kookaburra

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree,Merry, merry king of the bush is he,Laugh, kookaburra, laugh, kookaburra,
Gay your life must be.

When I was teaching, this song which is a round, was a favourite with my young students.

The kookaburra photographed is however the only one I have ever seen in the wild. I took the photo in 2006 while on a cycling trip in the Grampians in Victoria.

Kookaburras belong to the kingfisher family and are native to Australia and New Guinea. They have a distinctive call; click here to hear it. (mp3 file - NSW Government site)

To find out more about ABC Wednesdays and see links to other participants' sites go to mrs nesbitts place

April Theme Day: Water

Adelaide's tap water is quite suitable for drinking, but because it is treated with chlorine for bacterial control, at times it has an odour. Many people have installed filters in their homes to remove unwanted sediments and chemicals; resulting in very nice tasting water. However, many others buy bottled spring water.

Here is an alternative; the 'Charity Water Fountain' courtesy of the West End Brewery, Adelaide Bank and Chubb. For $1 you can fill up a large container of quality water; the same water used to make beer (so it must be good!).

The brewery uses four wells that tap into water in the Willunga Aquifer 200 metres below the site. The water is always pure and of consistently high quality; a result of gradual filtration through limestone over thousands of years.

To date over $815,000 has been raised and passed on to numerous South Australian charities.





Over 170 other City Daily Photo sites are participating. Please pay them a visit.

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