Part of HMAS II wreck delivered to East Fremantle from Albany
An anchor that served the Australian Navy during the Vietnam War has been transported from the coast of WA’s south west to a memorial site in East Fremantle.
The HMAS Perth II anchor previously formed part of a dive wreck off Albany, which remains a popular diving attraction in the region after the ship was laid in 2001.
Last month, it was transported to East Fremantle with the help of the WA Lions Club and will now become a permanent fixture of the site.
The memorial site is dedicated to commemorating the life lost on HMAS Perth I — a ship that served during the early years of the Second World War during the battle of Sunda Strait.
HMAS Perth I Memorial Foundation member David Nicolson said the anchor was designed to complement the memorial.
He said the 3.4-tonne piece would be included alongside other artefacts at the museum and was on display for the public to see.
“First of all you have to get someone who is prepared to lift a three-and-a-half-ton anchor and bring it up,” he said.
“We’re trying to get the message across that the memorial is nearly up and running and artefacts are being added to it, one of which is the anchor from the HMAS Perth II.”
The memorial is nearing completion, with a wall of remembrance now complete and engraved with the names of the crew on the HMAS Perth I ship.
A second stage of construction will see the “bow” of the ship built in glass.
Mr Nicolson said when completed, the site would be a memorial of “national significance”.
“It looks spectacular, especially at night,” he said.
“We hope this will become a memorial of national significance when it is all completed.”
The foundation expects the official opening of the memorial to be March 1 next year, marking the anniversary of the sinking of HMAS Perth I.
Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.
Sign up for our emails