Voyager Memorial Park - A History
Shoalhaven City CouncilVoyager Memorial Park in Huskisson Jervis Bay commemorates those who have served Australia in both conflict and peace time. This place of pride incorporates several memorials dedicated over the years since the park was first dedicated in 1972.
Memorial Park
Voyager Memorial Park was dedicated on 22nd April 1972 to commemorate the lives lost in Australia’s worst peacetime naval disaster which occurred in Jervis Bay on 10 February 1964.
A night training exercise ended in the loss of 82 lives when the 3658 tonne destroyer H.M.A.S Voyager collided, 19 miles off Point Perpendicular, with the 20,322 tonne aircraft carrier H.M.A.S Melbourne.
The H.M.A.S Voyager, stood little chance as it was sliced in two in minutes and sank.
232 survivors were rescued.
Located on the shores of Huskisson overlooking Point Perpendicular, Jervis Bay. The new memorial park includes a granite memorial stone with name plaques honouring the lost seaman. The stone was dedicated by the Chaplain from H.M.A.S Creswell.
Lone Pine Tree
Dedicated on 25th January 1993 the original Huskisson War Memorial included a sandstone arch and walls bearing name plaques and a Lone Pine Tree. The Lone Pine still remains as it was brought as a sapling from the hills of Gallipoli.
Court of Remembrance
A stunning black granite memorial The Court of Remembrance was officially dedicated in February 2019.
It honours all who have fought in the armed forces of Australia. Inclusive of an ANZAC Wall of Remembrance and a Wall of Remembrance for the 82 serviceman who lost their lives in the1964 H.M.A.S Voyager/ H.M.A.S Melbourne collision.
In 2019 the Voyager Memorial park includes
- Voyager Memorial Walk
- Wall of Remembrance - Voyager
- Wall of Remembrance – ANZAC
- Formal entrance and maintained gardens
- Interpretative historical signage
- Sundial donated by the shipyard that built H.M.A.S Voyager, the Cockatoo Island Naval Dockyard.
- Voyager Ship crest
Each year the memorial park hosts Anzac Day, Remembrance Day and loss of Voyager ceremonies.
