Cobar Sound Chapel, Sound art installation near Cobar, Australia
Cobar Sound Chapel is a sound art installation on a hill near Cobar featuring a cylindrical steel structure that houses a concrete chapel fitted with quadrophonic audio equipment. The building is visible from considerable distances and offers visitors an immersive audio experience within the desert landscape.
The project started in 2016 when composer Georges Lentz approached architect Glenn Murcutt to transform an old water tank into a sound installation. This collaboration between music and architecture created a new artistic venue in the Australian desert landscape.
The installation draws inspiration from the work of Indigenous artist Kathleen Petyarre and reflects the Ngiyampaa people's deep connection to the land, called kubbur. This spiritual bond shapes how visitors experience the space and gives it significance for the local community.
Access to the site requires obtaining a key from the Cobar information center before your visit. The installation is designed to operate reliably in harsh desert conditions throughout the year.
The audio system uses modified car stereo components engineered to withstand extreme desert heat and dust. This unconventional approach allows the artwork to function reliably while delivering high-quality sound in an otherwise hostile environment.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
