Remembering the Men of HMAS Perth
Dates
Saturday 8 March - Sunday 27 July 2025
Free | Included with General Admission
Site access information
WA Maritime Museum is mostly accessible, excluding tours aboard the HMAS Ovens. Call 1300 134 081 for assistance. More about accessibility and amenities >
Discover some of the ways HMAS Perth (I) has been memorialised over time, and how the vessel and its crew continue to be relevant.
At 23:06 on 28 February 1942, HMAS Perth (I) and USS Houston encountered a large Japanese Navy task force between the islands of Sumatra and Java in the Sunda Strait. The two ships engaged with the Japanese fleet and despite fighting gallantly, they were eventually overwhelmed and sunk with a great loss of life.
This community exhibition highlights key commemorations, including the HMAS Perth (I) Regatta, the annual remembrance ceremony at the St John the Baptist Church in Fremantle, and now the HMAS Perth (I) Memorial in East Fremantle, set to officially open on 1 March 2025.
Take in the details of historical banners and models. The beautiful banners on display highlight the journey of HMAS Perth (I), from its acceptance into the Royal Australian Navy in 1939 to the unauthorised partial salvage of the wreck in 2013. Complementing this visual history, Gerry Westenberg’s detailed models provide a technical perspective on HMAS Perth (I) and USS Houston, offering a deeper understanding of these historic warships.
Remembering the Men of HMAS Perth is presented by the HMAS Perth (I) Memorial Foundation Inc.
