The Singing Ship is a monument in Emu Park dedicated to Captain James Cook, commemorating the 200th anniversary of his voyage through Keppel Bay in 1770. It was officially unveiled on 30th May 1970 by the Minister for Shipping, Ian Sinclair.
The monument was designed by Peggy Westmoreland in 1969 as part of a competition held by the Captain Cook Bicentenary Celebrations Committee. Westmoreland was a joint winner of the competition alongside an entry by the Lions Club of Yeppoon. Although Westmoreland initially abandoned her design and discarded it, her husband, John Westmoreland, retrieved it from the rubbish bin and encouraged her to complete and submit it.
Once the Captain Cook Bicentenary Celebrations Committee selected Westmoreland’s design to construct the Singing Ship, fundraising efforts began with a target of $5,000. While the majority of funds were raised through small donations, larger contributions came from various organizations, including the local shire councils, the Lions Club of Yeppoon, and other community groups.
The preferred site for the monument was Churchill’s Lookout on Constitution Hill. It was constructed by builders Steve and Isabel Kele, engineer David Thomas, and physics lecturer George Cain. Cain designed steel pipes that were incorporated into the monument, allowing the wind to pass through and make the ship “sing.” However, since the monument was originally built, modifications have been made to reduce the volume of the sounds it creates.
The monument stands 12 metres tall and represents the billowing sail, mast, and rigging of Captain Cook’s ship, the Endeavour, constructed from concrete and steel.
Five years after the official unveiling, a time capsule was placed at the base of the monument, scheduled to be opened in the year 2070.
