Western Australian-made HMAS Sydney documentary goes to air

Ms McHale said the documentary, to air on ABC television at 8:30pm tonight, received $134,621 in investment funding from the State’s screen production agency, ScreenWest.

“The story of the HMAS Sydney is of tremendous national importance,” she said.

“It has particular significance to Western Australians, given that its final resting place lies off the WA coast.

“It is fitting that a WA team was there to capture this historic discovery.”

The Minister said Fremantle-based production company Electric Pictures worked with The Finding Sydney Foundation to film the search for the documentary.

The documentary will show the behind-the-scenes story of the multi-million dollar search for the sunken ship, led by shipwreck hunter David Mearns and his team aboard the SV Geosounder.

‘The Hunt for HMAS Sydney’ is a Film Australia and Electric Pictures Production in association with ScreenWest, Lotterywest, National Geographic Television International and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Ms McHale also announced that the WA Museum would be the first museum in the nation to showcase the images and information captured by the SV Geosounder.

“The Finding Sydney Foundation has given the museum access to all of the images and data collected over the past weeks,” she said.

“Many of the graphic and chilling images and information we have seen will form part of the exhibition, as well as objects already on show in Geraldton and other new material people have provided to the museum.”

The Minister said she would open the exhibition at the WA Museum in Geraldton on April 24, the day before ANZAC Day. The exhibition would run for at least 18 months.