The is dome made up of 645 stainless steel seagulls, representing the lost souls of the HMAS Sydney

A cupola of birds, 9 meters high and 12 meters in diameter,
is intended to be uplifting in nature while enclosing a sacred space of remembrance
and a symbolic link with the men of HMAS Sydney II.
It forms a canopy, which is a filigree of stainless steel and an open weave dome.
The whole effect of distilled light reflects the silver sea, creating a sense of disembodiment and peace.
Standing at the centre of this empty space,
one becomes aware of the vastness of the ocean;
this great open grave and as one’s eyes are drawn upward towards the light,
there is a sensation of looking up at the surface of the sea from below.
By day, the beauty of the Geraldton blue sky can be glimpsed,
filtering light through the silver winged shapes into the Memorial inner space;
while at night, the cupola, lit internally,
would form a dome of gold, glowing on the top of Mt. Scott.

The Stele, which is based on the concept of ancient Standing Stones found throughout the World, were used as markers of graves or commemorative sites, since time immemorial.

At the edge of the cliff stands a figure of a woman. At first glance, this will appear almost real: just another visitor, holding her hat against the sea breeze, her skirt blown back by the prevailing wind. She is anxious, tense; her gaze forever fixed patiently on the horizon. It only becomes apparent as one waits for her to move away, that her stillness is otherworldly, like the young man she is seeking, already in another realm. She is in fact, frozen in time and bronze. She is eternal, all-encompassing; the figure of the waiting woman, grieving for her lost father, husband, brother, son. Through her, we can feel the pain of that loss, the everlasting waiting of those who did and of those who still do. She stands here, for those who will come to this place, still hoping that the ship will be found, to close this tragic chapter in Australian history. She is also here for those who will at least find comfort in the existence of this sacred site; this place of contemplation which honours and remembers the great sacrifice of those who gave their lives, to make Australia safe and free for the people who live in this Country today.