A heritage Seaport village is different to a conventional maritime museum. It is an experiential education activity where a colonial seaport is recreated so that the visitor can step back in time. In the Australian context, it is the maritime equivalent of Sovereign Hill in Ballarat.
A heritage Seaport village located in Port Adelaide with the historic 1864 clipper ship ‘City of Adelaide’ as its prime exhibit – the ‘flagship’ – would be the ideal focal interpretative centre for Port Adelaide’s history. By combining the ’City of Adelaide’ with the likes of ‘Nelcebee’, ‘Falie’ and ‘Yelta’, we have the makings of a great attraction such as Mystic Seaport in the USA.
Mystic Seaport is an experiential education village where visitors can obtain a glimpse into the 19th century, can climb aboard historic ships, enjoy their heritage charm, imagine the hardships and adventures of life at sea, and learn about the crafts and industries of a port.
Visit the Mystic Seaport web-site ... (Mystic Seaport has been named the number two holiday destination in the USA by time.com)
To succeed, major heritage attractions need to be brought to life. This can best be done through the reminiscences and accounts which have survived. In the case of the ‘City of Adelaide’ there is a wealth of material to draw on. These are the stories of South Australian places, towns and people which will capture the public’s attention, stimulate their imagination, and immerse them in a vibrant maritime past.
A Seaport village offers the perfect interactive environment for visitors to learn about colonial Australian history and for school children to become more knowledgeable and proud of their state. Such a Seaport in Port Adelaide with the world heritage namesake clipper ‘City of Adelaide’ as its prime exhibit will act as the ideal focal centre to improve the interpretation of Adelaide’s history and will help conserve existing SA heritage assets and build on the heritage ambience of Port Adelaide.
It will also build on the state’s traditional historical brandings – such as its German, Cornish, and mining heritage – by linking directly with them. It will also broaden the historical messages about South Australia with particular reference to capturing the state’s rich story through interpretive material.
A heritage Seaport in Port Adelaide will offer a world-class, world-renowned and “must see” tourist destination.
