Memorial events for HMAS Sydney 80th anniversary

On Armistice Day 1941, HMAS Sydney set sail for the last time.

A routine escort mission ended in the loss of 645 crewmen, and sparked the biggest mystery in Australian naval history.

For the 80th anniversary of that tragic night, the City of Greater Geraldton has teamed up with local branches of the RSL and Naval Association to put on a weekend of events commemorating Australia’s biggest naval disaster.

A sunset service will be held at the HMAS Sydney II Memorial from 5pm. RSVP’s are essential to get a seat, but the event will be live streamed on the City’s Facebook page for those who can’t attend.

The Geraldton Museum is hosting a free exhibit from November 19 to February 13. Deep Light will feature the largest ever 3D reconstruction of the wreck, using images of the wreck captured in 2015 after an expedition returned to the site with remotely controlled submarines.

"The technology used to capture the images shown in Deep Light revealed new information about that fateful day in 1941 which helped understand how both ships met their fate,” culture, arts and heritage minister David Templeman said.

WA Heritage Award winners Theatre 180 will be running their production, Sydney II Lost and Found, at Orana Cinemas throughout the weekend.

The show is a mixture of live theatre and movie, following the loss of the ship, and the search which uncovered the wreck 66 years later.