The HMAS Sydney II Memorial on Mount Scott is Geraldton's most powerful landmark, commemorating the 645 sailors lost when the Australian light cruiser was sunk by the German commerce raider Kormoran in November 1941. The two ships destroyed each other — the Kormoran also sank — in the last major naval gun battle between surface ships in Australian waters, and the loss of the Sydney with no survivors remains the largest single loss of life in Australian naval history.
The memorial complex, opened in 2001, is designed with the kind of thoughtfulness that Australian memorials have become known for. A dome of 645 stainless steel seagulls — one for each lost sailor — stands at the centre. The nearby Dome of Souls allows in dappled light through apertures that represent the 645 men. A Pool of Remembrance, a bronze map, and a stylised female figure called The Waiting Woman complete the ensemble. The design rewards time and contemplation rather than a quick walk-through.
Mount Scott itself offers good views over Geraldton and the harbour. The memorial is a short drive from the city centre.