USS Peary Memorial

A POWERFUL MEMORIAL POINTING TOWARDS THE WRECK **Summary:** One of the more striking memorials in Bicentennial Park because the main feature is an actual 4-inch gun salvaged from USS Peary. The gun now points out across Darwin Harbour towards the ship’s final resting place, which gives the memorial a very direct connection to the events of 19 February 1942. The setting is beautiful, with wide harbour views, although there is little shade immediately beside the memorial. USS Peary was a U.S. Navy destroyer sunk during the first Japanese bombing raid on Darwin. The plaque explains that the ship came under repeated attack between December 1941 and February 1942 and went down with its guns still firing. It describes the loss as the U.S. Navy’s greatest loss of life in Australian waters. The gun was salvaged from the wreck in the 1950s, later restored by the Royal Australian Navy and installed here in 1992. Its position, aimed towards the wreck site, makes the memorial much more meaningful than a simple plaque. The harbour-side location is very scenic and there are places to sit nearby, but shaded benches are around 50–60 metres away. This is an easy and worthwhile stop while walking through Bicentennial Park, especially if you are interested in Darwin’s wartime history.