Underground, overground… (Day 1 continued)
From Lake Thetis (home of the stromatolites) we headed inland to Stockyard Gully Cave and a walk through an underground cavern. The whole area is dotted with limestone caves and this particular one used to be a watering/resting point for the mobs of cattle the drovers brought through from Geraldton to Perth in the 1950s. It’s a lovely, cool 1.3 km walk through the cave (open on both ends) but you do need torches and sturdy footwear and it helps if you are not allergic to bees – there are quite a few hives on the limestone entrance/exit points!
From Stockyard Gully, we moved onto Geraldton and our overnight stay. We went to visit the HMAS Sydney Memorial.
Steeped in symbolism, the Memorial pays homage to the ship’s 645 men who lost their lives off of Western Australia’s coastline during the battle with German Ship HSK Kormoran.
The Memorial’s symbolic elements include the following:
- The Wall of Remembrance, which bears the names of the 645 men who lost their lives on HMAS Sydney II, as well as the history of the ship.
- The Sanctuary, the centrepiece of the Memorial which sits on seven pillars to represent the States and Territories of Australia. The silver dome of the Sanctuary is made up of 645 seagulls, representing those lost, and a ship’s propeller sits at the centre of the Sanctuary’s circular floor. The propeller also serves as a ceremonial wreath-laying altar.
- The Stele, representing the bow of the HMAS Sydney II.
- The Waiting Woman Sculpture, facing towards the sea, longingly awaiting the return of her loved one.
- The Pool of Remembrance, which waters symbolically flow ‘down’ circular terracing. At the floor of the pool lies a map which shows the location of the HMAS Sydney II‘s final resting place.