The Rotary Dolphin Wishing Well at the Hillarys Boat Harbour in Western Australia uniquely combines public art and community fund raising – and all because of three real life bottle-nosed dolphins:  Rajah, Mila and Echo. The idea for a community wishing well was conceived when three popular bottle-nose dolphins, Rajah, Mila and Echo, died mysteriously at Hillarys Boat Harbour in December 1999.

The wishing well  became a ten year joint project by the Rotary Clubs of Hillarys and Wanneroo, and since March 2010 every time a $2 coin is inserted in the wishing well the larger-than-life dolphin sculpture does a good turn – a complete 360 degree rotation. The net proceeds from the wishing well are now being distributed to local and other community projects identified by the two Rotary Clubs.

Why were Rajah, Mila and Echo so popular?

Over the years the dolphins had spent some time at Atlantis, an aquatic park near Yanchep north of Perth where unsuccessful attempts were made to rehabilitate them to their normal life at sea. Following their re-location to AQWA at Hillarys, the dolphins were endeared to many hundreds of thousands of Australian and overseas visitors – many of whom could frolic and swim with them in their penned enclosure. Today, flowers and cards arrive regularly at the Rotary Dolphin Wishing Well with expressions of affectionate recollections of  the dolphins’ friendliness and popularity.

The wishing well's moat and housing - which supports the rotating dolphins - is also unique, as it houses an advanced electro-mechanical drive system which is sensitive to loads and winds, allowing the dolphins to rotate slowly and safely whenever a gold coin is inserted, or a web-site command is given. The moat section is fabricated from 445M2 grade stainless steel, kindly donated by Austral Wright, and it is capable of being elevated for access by three screw-drive mechanisms whenever servicing is required. It was designed, engineered and fabricated by DSM Consulting Engineers.