Read About the Cradle

Cradle in Irvine

The giant transportation cradle, that will be used to transport the 'City of Adelaide' to Australia, has arrived in Scotland, and has been assembled for certification.
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Clipper's Significance

'City of Adelaide' at Port Augusta c1880

In the 1800s, thousands of migrants made the long and arduous voyage to Australia. They all came by sea. The only sailing ship of this trade to survive is the City of Adelaide.
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Transportation Plans

'City of Adelaide' Transportation Route

We have well developed plans for transporting the clipper ship 'City of Adelaide' from Scotland to South Australia, and first major stages are complete or underway.
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Welcome

Welcome to the website for the splendid clipper ship City of Adelaide - the oldest clipper ship in the world.

The City of Adelaide (1864) and Cutty Sark (1869) are the last two clipper ships surviving in the world today. The Cutty Sark is famous for carrying tea from China and wool from Sydney, Australia, to Britain. The City of Adelaide is famous for being specially designed as a passenger ship. Over a quarter of a century the City of Adelaide carried English, Scottish, Cornish, German, Danish, Irish and other migrants to South Australia. Today, the descendants of her passengers can be found throughout Australia.

The City of Adelaide also imported trade goods into South Australia as well as carry South Australian exports such as copper, wool and wheat to Britain on the return voyages.

We plan to bring the City of Adelaide back to South Australia and display her as part of a heritage, sense of place, sense of time, experiential, and not-for-profit Seaport Village in Port Adelaide.

All members of the Clipper Ship 'City of Adelaide' Limited are 100% volunteers and do not receive any remuneration in any way, in any form, at any time. They are dedicated community members who donate their own time, own materials and own money to support the clipper. Thus 100% of your support will go directly towards the efforts to save the historic clipper ship City of Adelaide.

 

Civic Trust Awards

South Australian Register - 8 November 1864

... Nor is speedy progress the only aim, for in her passenger appointments every means have been taken to ensure perfection. The main saloon is a handsome appointment decorated with white and gold, and furnished with settees, tables and sideboard of solid teak.

‘Shipping Intelligence’, South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, 8 November 1864.

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Vision and Mission

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The helm of Devitt & Moore ship, 'Hesperus', in a gale in the Bay of Biscay, October 1898.
The helm of another Devitt & Moore ship, 'Hesperus', in a gale in the Bay of Biscay, October 1898. Source: 'Painted Ports' by Capt. A.G. Course, 1961.

Our Vision and Mission

Our Vision

Our Vision is to …

  • Preserve the world heritage clipper ship City of Adelaide,
  • Promote knowledge of this precious ship's heritage significance to South Australia, Australia and the international community,
  • Enrich lives through an interpretative museum and community venue, and,
  • Provide enjoyment for visitors to the maritime heritage tourist precinct of Port Adelaide and for the local community.

Our Mission

Our Mission is to save the historic clipper ship City of Adelaide and preserve the ship for future generations, by …

  • Transporting the ship from Scotland to South Australia.
  • Protecting and securing the ship under cover, and on land, in Port Adelaide.
  • Developing an interpretive museum and community venue that educates, entertains and involves visitors.
  • Providing visitors with an appreciation of …
    • the unique construction of the ship,
    • the traditional skills of the 19th century English shipbuilders,
    • the traditional skills of the crew of the ship,
    • the life on board for the passengers and crew,
    • the trade importance of the clipper ships to the fledgling colony of South Australia in transporting goods, grain, wool, wine, copper and other commodities to the European markets,
    • the great Clipper Races from Australia to the European markets.
  • Linking to other related South Australian tourist destinations such as Port Augusta, Burra, the 'Copper Triangle' towns, the River Murray Paddle Steamers, the ships graveyard, the Migration Museum, and the SA Maritime Museum.
  • Creating critical mass together with other local museums, heritage organisations and community groups.
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