HMAS PERTH MEMORIAL 

David Nicolson

HMAS Perth (I) Memorial officially opened.

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On the 1st of March, 2025 the memorial was officially opened during a ceremony at the memorial by His Excellency Chris Dawson AC APM, Governor of Western Australia and Commander Dylan White RAN, Commanding Officer of HMAS Perth (III).

 

 

 

A model of HMS Amphion, renamed HMAS Perth (I) comes to Western Australia.

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The cruiser, HMA Amphion, was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1936 and, in 1939, was sold to Australia and commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy as HMAS Perth.

On a trip to the UK, Cmdr Bob Mumery (OAM RAN Retd), a committee member of the HMAS Perth (I) Memorial Foundation, came across the original model of HMS Amphion.  The model had been constructed circa 1934 and was in a fair state of disrepair.  The Lions clubs of Wales (UK) and Western Australia jointly undertook the task of shipping the model to Western Australia where Lions member and model builder, Alan Hawkins, was tasked with the restoration of the model. 

The dilapidated model was boxed in the UK ready for shipping to WA.

 

All boxed up and ready to go.
Model builder Alan Hawkins (right), goes over the details of the restoration with another local model builder, Gerry Westernberg.

 

This photo gives some idea of the size of the model. There is a lot of detailed work in front of Alan Hawkins!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An example of the detail to which Alan Hawkins is providing for the model.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The model, nearing completion in June 2025.

The anchor from HMAS Perth (II) arrives.

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The memorial is now the proud owner of an anchor from HMAS Perth (II). 

The anchor was found by the Foundation’s project manager, Cmdr Jim O’Neil (ANC Rtd), and with the help of John Hack, representing the Lions Clubs of WA, organised the transporting it from a shed in Albany.

 

The anchor being moved in position in front flag mast at the memorial site.

 

The president of the HMAS Perth (I) Memorial Foundation, Mike Bailey, (on the left) and Lions WA representative, John Hack, pose with the new acquisition to the memorial.

The second stage of the Memorial nears completion.

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Work on the “glass bow’ of the Memorial is nearly complete.  All the panels are now installed and it looks fantastic.  Some work has to be done to finish the roof, install the lighting and seal the panels.

 

An overall view of the memorial site showing the Wall of Remembrance, the half scale of the propeller and the nearly completed second stage.

 

The “port” side of the glass panelled memorial.

 

A “bow on” view of the second stage of the memorial.

 

The “starboard” side of the second stage showing the printed photos of the ship and her crew.

Stage two of the memorial is starting to take shape.

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Significant progress is now being made on the second stage of the HMAS Perth (I) Memorial with the completion of the metal framework and the roof.  The glass “frames” have been installed to support the graphic panels depicting the ship and her crew.

The roof and basic metal have now been completed.

 

The glass “frames” are now in place. These will support the graphic panels.

 

Another view of the metal and glass frames.

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Members of the HMAS Perth National Association , Queensland branch visit the HMAS Perth (I) Memorial

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The president of the association, Darrell Neild, and its secretary, Terry McLeod, led a delegation to see the progress of the HMAS Perth (I) Memorial.  Pictures of the three Perths were presented to the Memorial Foundation committee.

 

Members of the Queensland branch of the HMAS Perth National association together with committee members of the HMAS Perth (I) Memorial Foundation. The three pictures of HMAS Perth (I), (II), and (III) are shown in front.
Members from both organisations standing in front of the Wall of Remembrance.
Crocheted poppies were laid on a model of HMAS Perth(I).
Members inspect the progress of the second stage of the memorial.
Ship mates from HMAS Perth (II). From the left, Merv Ward, Terry McLeod, Darby Munro, Darrell Neild and Bob Mummery.