'City of Adelaide'

The petition of the undersigned shows:

Australian citizens recognise that the 'City of Adelaide' built in 1864 and the 'Cutty Sark' built in 1869 are the last two remaining composite clipper ships in the world.  Australian citizens recognise that with the recent devastating fire on the 'Cutty Sark', the 'City of Adelaide', five years older than the 'Cutty Sark', is now of even greater world heritage significance.

Australian citizens recognise the major heritage importance of the clipper ship 'City of Adelaide' to both the nation of Australia and the State of South Australia.  Australian citizens recognise that as the 'City of Adelaide' is the last surviving sailing ship to carry emigrants on a regular service between Europe and Australia, and one of only two surviving sailing ships to carry emigrants from the British Isles to any destination in the world, she is of major national historic significance to Australia.

Australian citizens recognise that in colonial times the nation of Australia was "built on the sheep's back" and that Australia's prosperity was dependent on sailing ships to deliver the sheep's wool to the overseas markets and that by good fortune a significant element of that Australian maritime heritage has survived in the form of the clipper ship 'City of Adelaide'.  During those colonial days, she is attributed to have carried 60,000 bales of Australian wool in the Great Clipper Races from Australia to England.  In addition to wool the 'City of Adelaide' also carried other Australian cargoes such as wheat and copper to the European markets on return voyages after bringing out her precious human 'cargoes' of European immigrants.

Australian citizens are alarmed at the recent developments in Scotland whereby the 'City of Adelaide' is required to quit the site where she presently sits, and as a consequence the UK authorities plan to deconstruct her at an estimated cost of A$1,500,000 to A$1,700,000.

Your Petitioners request that the Senate should:

1. Make representations to the UK authorities that the budget planned to be used for deconstructing the historic ship should be converted into a budget for the constructive purpose of contributing to the transportation of the 'City of Adelaide' to Australia.

2. Make arrangements together with Australian State authorities and corporate Australia to make up the additional budget necessary to transport the 'City of Adelaide' to Australia to preserve her and display her for future generations of Australians.

3. Take any additional actions necessary to ensure the preservation of this important piece of world and national heritage.