Tracey Roberts (Pearce, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Forty years ago Australia II famously won the America's Cup, and Fremantle recently held an event to celebrate the occasion. In the 1970s Alan Bond acquired 20,000 acres of land in Yanchep, and in 1972 developers unveiled Yanchep Sun City, with a plan to build the Two Rocks Marina as a training base for the 1974 America's Cup yacht race challenge. Fast forward to 1981 when Atlantis Marine Park emerged with the hope that Perth's rapid growth would be mirrored by an upsurge in tourism, and today hundreds of thousands of people fondly remember their visit to the iconic Atlantis Marine Park. The local community rallied tirelessly to preserve the historic site, and in January 2023 the Sun City precinct in Two Rocks earned a spot on the state register of heritage places. The iconic King Neptune statue is saved, but the fight continues for surrounding parkland for all to enjoy. In 1983, a fourth challenge was mounted, with Bond's team determined to bring the cup back to Australia. Amidst seven challengers, only one proudly flew the boxing kangaroo flag and featured the game-changing winged keel. Australia II,designed by Ben Lexcen, skippered by John Bertrand, representing the Royal Perth Yacht Club, clinched victory. This was the first time in 132 years and 26 challenges that the New York Yacht Club has lost the cup. We all remember the colourful and proud reaction of former Prime Minister Bob Hawke. From humble beginnings in Two Rocks, a dream was born, and through unwavering skill, grit and determination that dream become a reality.

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