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Cooling Brothers Delivers Striking Glass Installation for HMAS Perth (I) Memorial
Cooling Brothers Glass Company is proud to announce its involvement in the newly completed HMAS Perth (I) Memorial, a powerful tribute to the 357 lives lost when the Royal Australian Navy warship was sunk in 1942. The memorial, which stands in East Fremantle, features a striking glass-walled ‘ship’s prow’ structure, designed to honor the legacy of the ship and its crew while providing a place of reflection and remembrance for generations to come.
The memorial was designed by Smith Sculptors, the renowned artistic team behind the HMAS Sydney II Memorial in Geraldton. Cooling Brothers was engaged to manufacture and install the printed glass panels that form the core of the ship’s prow feature, which stands as a visual and symbolic representation of HMAS Perth (I) emerging from the sea.
Cooling Brothers Director Vince Bianchini expressed immense gratitude in the company’s role in the project. “This memorial is a deeply meaningful tribute to those who served on HMAS Perth (I), and we are honored to have played a role in bringing it to life. The intricacy of the printed glass and the complexity of the installation made this a challenging but incredibly rewarding project. It is humbling to see how glass can be used not only as a building material but as a storytelling medium that preserves history.”
The glass panels feature high-resolution imagery, created using Cooling Brothers’ ImagInk ceramic printing technology, which permanently fuses designs into the glass surface. This ensures the memorial remains vibrant and durable for decades to come, resistant to weathering and environmental exposure. The printed images showcase both battle scenes and portraits of the young sailors who served aboard HMAS Perth (I), adding a deeply personal and human element to the design.
Rhys Aizlewood, Cooling Brothers’ Commercial Glazing Manager, emphasised the technical challenges involved in the project. “Structurally glazing glass at complex angles, particularly in a symbolic and high-profile memorial like this, requires absolute precision. From engineering the glass panels to installing them seamlessly into the ship’s prow formation, every step had to be executed flawlessly. The difference of just a few millimeters could impact alignment, making this one of the most intricate installations we have completed.”
The memorial took seven years to bring to fruition, and its completion marks an important milestone in honoring the sacrifices made during World War II. Cooling Brothers worked closely with Smith Sculptors and the HMAS Perth (I) Memorial Foundation to ensure the vision of the project was fully realised. “The final result is breathtaking,” added Bianchini. “To be part of a project with such historical and emotional significance is a privilege, and we hope that the HMAS Perth (I) Memorial will stand as a lasting reminder of the bravery and sacrifice of those who served.”
The memorial is now open to the public in East Fremantle, welcoming visitors to reflect on the legacy of HMAS Perth (I) and those who served aboard her. Cooling Brothers extends its gratitude to all project stakeholders for their dedication and collaboration in bringing this vision to life.