The Royal Australian Navy Memorial

This memorial is also known as ‘Sailors and Ships’. It is dedicated to the naval servicemen and women who from colonial days have created the naval traditions of Australia, and honours those who have died and those who continue to serve. The sculpture itself expresses the constant vigilance and preparedness required of Navy personnel.

Walk around the sculpture not only to look, but also to listen to the water. Each element has a distinctive sound – for example, the bow wave has a slight hiss and the main gush of water behind the sculpture throbs as though driven by propellers. There is the sound of water cascading from a submarine’s conning tower and the general turbulence created by a ship’s passage. The geometric shapes symbolise a ship and the emerging figures portray a range of ranks and activities.

Click here to learn more about Anzac Parade and its memorials.