Deep Light: Illuminating the Wrecks of Sydney and Kormoran

Sat 12 Sep 2020Sun 31 Jan 2021

9:30am5:00pm

WA Shipwrecks Museum


The World War Two encounter between HMAS Sydney (II) and the disguised German raider HSK Kormoran off the Western Australian coast stands as Australia’s most tragic naval disaster. 81 men from Kormoran were killed and 318 survived. The lives of all 645 men on Sydney were lost.

For more than 66 years, the location of the two ships remained a mystery. Then, in 2008, the Finding Sydney Foundation and shipwreck expert David Mearns found the wrecks off Shark Bay.

In 2015, the WA Museum and Curtin University, with vital assistance from DOF Subsea, the Commonwealth Government and other supporters, returned to the wreck sites. Using remotely controlled equipment, the team captured stunning underwater images that revealed the fate of the ships on the seabed, over two kilometres beneath the waves. These images revealed a remote world of solemn loss, filled with wondrous creatures and surprising colour.

This poignant exhibition showcases remarkable images and footage captured during the expedition, interviews with the research team, the moving 3D film From Great Depthsand personal reflections from descendants and family members of Sydney's crew.

Deep Light: Illuminating the Wrecks of Sydney and Kormoran is showing at the WA Shipwrecks Museum from Saturday 12 September until Sunday 31 January.

Entry to this exhibition is free.

Education

Deep Light is available for education group bookings during school term.

Learning resources to support the exhibition are also available.

Education Groups & Deep Light Learning Resources



     

Images courtesy of Curtin University and the Western Australian Museum.
© Western Australian Museum


Credit: WA Museum