The Western Australian Museum has received a significant funding boost to investigate, photograph and film the World War II wrecks of HMAS Sydney (II) and the HSK Kormoran, with Curtin University this week donating $170,000 to the project, and the WA Museum Foundation matching that amount with another $170,000.

Curtin University is the latest organisation to recognise the compelling community value of the project which will provide a gift to the nation by producing a unique record of the state of the wrecks and of the tragic story that unfolded between the ships, and an opportunity to create a virtual visitor experience that will give people permanent access to two of Australia’s most significant, yet inaccessible heritage sites.

WA Museum Chief Executive Officer Alec Coles today thanked Curtin University for its generous donation, along with the WA Museum Foundation and other key sponsors the GMA Garnet Group and the Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Western Australia, Torsten Ketelsen, who have donated $150,000; as well as Founding Sponsor DOF Subsea which is donating the expedition vessel, engineering maritime operational expertise, two days vessel travel time and the equivalent of one day on the water.

The loss of HMAS Sydney (II), with all hands off the Western Australian coast in 1941 is Australia’s greatest naval tragedy,

Mr Coles said.

“The battle between these ships, its aftermath and the extraordinary story of the 67 year search for the wreck sites constitute a very significant part of WA’s history, and this expedition to investigate and reimage the wreck sites is a once in a lifetime project.

“The wrecks were discovered in 2008 by the Finding Sydney Foundation and a lot of valuable data was obtained by the search team at the time, in the limited time they had, but the WA Museum is responsible for the management of these sites and it is incumbent upon us to properly protect, conserve and interpret them for future generations.” 

Mr Coles said the total budget for the expedition was about $2.4 million, with each day on location investigating, photographing and filming the wrecks costing about $150,000.

“The more time on the water we have now, the better the historic record we will obtain, and the better the understanding we will gain to interpret the sites because realistically, at that cost, we are not going back any time soon,” he said.

Curtin University is already a key partner in the project having developed the 3D stereoscopic imaging equipment that will be used to film and photograph the wreck sites later this year.  

“In providing discretionary funding over and above that expertise, and in addition to the considerable, valuable research it already funds through its own organisation, Curtin University has recognised and responded to the compelling community value this project represents and we are very grateful for that,” Mr Coles said.

The WA Museum Foundation was formed in 1995 to financially support the research, exhibition and public engagement activities of the Museum.   It encourages corporate and individual giving and sponsorship, but also aims to create an endowment fund to help fund the Museum’s activities such as the Sydney Kormoran project.

Mr Coles said it was significant that one of the major sponsors was the GMA Garnet Group with its extensive mining and mineral processing operations in the Mid West, which has donated $150,000 for the work at sea.

“The Sydney Kormoran story is about two ships, and two nations who were at war, and any future interpretation would seek to engage the German side of the story, leading to a better and wider understanding of the significance of the two ships, the battle between them, the context in which it occurred and the human consequences,” he said.

“The Friends of the WA Museum, with support from Lotterywest, have carried out research which confirms strong interest from both Australian and German audiences for telling the whole story surrounding this incident.”

Both ships lie approximately 2,500 metres deep on the seabed, 20 kilometres apart, about 200km off Western Australia’s Mid West coast.  The project to investigate and reimage the wreck sites is being undertaken in partnership with Curtin University, DOF Subsea and the University of Western Australia.  It received a $483,248 Commonwealth Your Community Heritage grant last year.

The project has the support of the WA Museum Foundation; the Friends of the WA Museum; Lotterywest; the Australian National Maritime Museum; the Royal Australian Navy and the National Naval Association, the latter representing Veterans’ interests.

Mara Pritchard
Manager Communications and Media, WA Museum
Phone: 6552 7803 or 0414 381 761