kids encyclopedia robot

City of Adelaide (1864) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

class="infobox " style="float: right; clear: right; width: 315px; border-spacing: 2px; text-align: left; font-size: 90%;"

| colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em;" | SV City Adelaide Dutton Lithograph.jpg

City of Adelaide. Hand-coloured lithograph by Thomas Dutton, 1864.

|} The City of Adelaide is a famous clipper ship, built in Sunderland, England. It was launched on May 7, 1864. This ship was designed to carry both passengers and goods between Britain and Australia.

From 1864 to 1887, the ship made 23 yearly trips from London and Plymouth to Adelaide, South Australia. It played a big part in helping people move to Australia. On its way back, it carried passengers, wool, and copper from Adelaide and Port Augusta to London.

After 1887, the ship had many different jobs. It carried coal around the British coast and timber across the Atlantic Ocean. In 1893, it became a floating hospital in Southampton. In 1923, the Royal Navy bought it and renamed it HMS Carrick to avoid confusion with another ship. It was used as a training ship in Scotland.

In 1948, the ship was no longer needed by the Navy. It was given to a club in Glasgow and used as their headquarters on the River Clyde. In 1989, it was damaged by floods. The ship was then protected as a historic building, but it sank at its mooring in 1991.

The Scottish Maritime Museum rescued Carrick in 1992 and moved it to Irvine, North Ayrshire. Work started to restore it, but funding stopped in 1999. For many years, the ship's future was uncertain. In 2001, a meeting led by the Duke of Edinburgh decided to change the ship's name back to City of Adelaide.

In 2010, the Scottish Government decided the ship should move to Adelaide, Australia, to become a museum. The Duke of Edinburgh officially renamed it in 2013. In September 2013, the ship was moved by a large barge from Scotland to the Netherlands. From there, it traveled on a cargo ship and arrived in Port Adelaide on February 3, 2014. It is now waiting to be fully restored.

Contents

History
United Kingdom
Name
  • City of Adelaide (1864–1922)
  • HMS Carrick (1922–48)
  • Carrick (1948–2001)
  • City of Adelaide (since 2001)
Owner
  • Bruce, Moore, Harrold Bros. & Martin, London (1864–87)
  • Charles H Mowll, Dover (1887–88)
  • Thomas S Dixon & Son, Belfast (1888–93)
  • Southampton Corp. (1893–1922)
  • Royal Navy (1922–48)
  • RNVR Club, Glasgow (1948–89)
  • Clyde Ship Trust (1990–92)
  • Scottish Maritime Museum (1992–2013)
  • Clipper Ship City of Adelaide Ltd, Adelaide, S Australia (from 2013)
Operator Devitt and Moore House flag.svg Devitt and Moore (1864–87)
Port of registry
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland London (1864–88)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Belfast (1888–1893)
  •  Royal Navy (1922–48)
Route London — Plymouth — Adelaide — Port Augusta — London (typical 1864–87)
Builder Pile, Hay & Co
Launched 7 May 1864
Commissioned 1923
Decommissioned 1948
Maiden voyage 6 August 1864
Out of service 1893–1922; since 1948
Stricken Removed from register 7 February 1895
Homeport
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland London (1864–88)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Belfast (1888–93)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Southampton (1893–95)
  • England Southampton (1895–1922)
  • Scotland Glasgow (1948–92)
  • Scotland Irvine (1992–2013)
  • South Australia Port Adelaide (from 2014)
Identification
  • UK official number 50036
  • code letters WCLQ
  • ICS Whiskey.svgICS Charlie.svgICS Lima.svgICS Quebec.svg
Nickname(s) The City
Status Awaiting restoration at Port Adelaide, South Australia
Badge
  • on stern
  • City of Adelaide coat of arms
General characteristics
Type
  • Composite clipper
  • Passenger ship (1864–87)
  • Collier (1887–88)
  • Cargo ship (1888–93)
  • Hospital ship (1893–1922)
  • Training ship (1922–48)
  • RNVR Clubrooms (1948–91)
  • Museum ship (since 1991)
Tonnage 791 NRT
Length
  • 244 ft 1 in (74.40 m)
  • 176.8 ft (53.89 m)
Beam 33.3 ft (10.15 m)
Depth 18.8 ft (5.73 m)
Sail plan

Why is City of Adelaide Special?

City of Adelaide is the oldest surviving clipper ship in the world. There are only two clippers left, the other being Cutty Sark (built in 1869). It is also one of only three ocean-going ships built with a special "composite" design that still exist.

This ship is important because it carried many people who moved from Britain to Australia. It is the only surviving passenger sailing ship built for this purpose. It also played a role in the timber trade between North America and the UK, being the last ship from that era still around.

The way City of Adelaide was built shows how shipbuilding changed in the 1800s. It was built before special rules for composite ships were made, so it was "over-engineered" (built extra strong). This extra strength likely helped it survive for so long.

Because of its importance, City of Adelaide was a highly protected historic structure in Scotland before it moved to Australia.

How Was City of Adelaide Built?

Midship section of Composite Ship
Inside a composite ship, showing iron and wood parts.

City of Adelaide was built to carry both people and goods. It had cabins for first and second-class passengers. When needed, its cargo area could be set up for many more passengers, often called "steerage" class.

The ship has a special "composite construction." This means it has a strong frame made of wrought iron (a type of metal) and a hull (the main body) made of timber planks. This design gave it the strength of an iron ship but also the good insulation of a wooden ship.

Unlike iron ships, composite ships could have their bottoms covered with copper. This copper covering stopped sea creatures and plants from growing on the hull, which helped the ship move faster. Because of their strong iron frames, composite ships could carry very large sails, making them some of the fastest ships of their time.

City of Adelaide was built in 1864, which was early in the time composite ships were made (around 1860-1880). It was built before official rules for composite ships were published. This means some parts of its structure were built stronger than they needed to be, which is why it's called "over-engineered." This extra strength probably helped it survive for so long, even after it got stuck on a beach in Australia in 1874.

A Look at Its History

Capt David Bruce ca1864
Captain David Bruce, the ship's first master and part-owner.

Starting Its Journey

Captain David Bruce had a lot of experience sailing between London and Adelaide. He had City of Adelaide built especially for this route. The ship was ordered from William Pile, Hay and Company in Sunderland and launched on May 7, 1864. Captain Bruce owned a quarter of the ship.

While a company called Devitt and Moore managed the ship in London, they didn't own all of it. Other owners included Harrold Brothers, who were agents in Adelaide, and Henry Martin, who owned copper mines in Australia.

Voyages to South Australia (1864–1887)

The ship sailed for 23 years, making yearly trips to and from South Australia. It played a very important role in the growth of the colony. Experts believe that a quarter of a million people in South Australia today can trace their family history back to passengers on City of Adelaide.

The City of Adelaide was one of the fastest clippers on the London-Adelaide route. It once shared the record of 65 days for the journey.

City of Adelaide Stranding 1874
City of Adelaide stuck on Kirkcaldy Beach in South Australia, August 1874.
PRG1273 4 7 City of Adelaide at Port Augusta c1880
City of Adelaide at Port Augusta around 1881-83, after becoming a barque.

On August 24, 1874, the ship got stuck on Kirkcaldy Beach near Grange, Australia. There were over 320 people on board. Strong storms caused the ship to get stranded. The passengers were safely taken off the next day by steam tugs. The ship was refloated on September 4, mostly unharmed.

By the 1880s, City of Adelaide also stopped at Port Augusta on its return trips. Here, it loaded copper from mines and wool from sheep farms before racing back to London for wool sales. In 1881, the ship's sails were changed, and it became a barque.

Famous Passengers

City of Adelaide Nurses Quarters c1894
Nurses' Quarters in the former First Class cabins of City of Adelaide, around 1894.

Some notable people who traveled on City of Adelaide include:

  • Sir Frederick Aloysius Weld – a former Premier of New Zealand and Governor of other colonies.
  • Cyril Maude – a famous English stage and film actor.
  • Alfred Sandover – a generous donor.
  • Frederick Bullock – a mayor of Adelaide. He kept a diary of his journey as a 15-year-old.

Carrying Coal (1887–1888)

In 1887, City of Adelaide was sold to a coal merchant in Dover. It was then used to carry coal from the River Tyne to Dover in the "collier" trade.

Transporting Timber (1888–1893)

Aboutement de bois equarri Quebec 1872
Loading square timber in Quebec City, Canada, 1872.

In 1888, the ship was sold again, this time to timber merchants in Belfast. It began carrying timber across the North Atlantic Ocean.

In the 18th century, Britain needed a lot of timber, especially for ship masts. They started getting timber from North America. This became a huge business. Many ships carried timber from North America to Britain. On their return trips, they often carried people who wanted to move to North America. This led to many new immigrants arriving.

City of Adelaide was based in Belfast and often visited ports in North America, like Miramichi, New Brunswick. Of the thousands of sailing ships that carried timber between North America and the UK, City of Adelaide is the last one left.

A Floating Hospital (1893–1922)

City of Adelaide as Hospital Ship c1894
City of Adelaide as an isolation hospital near Millbrook, around 1894.
City of Adelaide Hospital Ward c1894
A hospital ward on City of Adelaide when it was a hospital ship, around 1894.

The City of Adelaide stopped being a sailing ship in 1893. The city of Southampton bought it for £1750 to use as a floating hospital, mainly for people with infectious diseases. In 2009, a new health center in Southampton was named the Adelaide Health Centre in honor of the ship.

Royal Navy Training Ship (1922–1948)

In 1923, the Admiralty (the British Navy) bought City of Adelaide. It was towed to Irvine, Scotland, and turned into a training ship. It was renamed HMS Carrick to avoid confusion with another ship. It served as a Naval Drill Ship for the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) in Scotland.

Clubhouse for Sailors (1948–1990)

After World War II, the ship was going to be scrapped. But thanks to some important people, it was given to the R.N.V.R. Club (Scotland) in 1948. It was towed to Glasgow and used as the club's headquarters. This move was even called 'Operation Ararat'.

The ship stayed in Glasgow until 1989, when it was damaged by flooding. The club realized they couldn't afford to keep it up.

Becoming a Museum Ship (1990–Present)

City of Adelaide in Princes Dock in 1991
City of Adelaide sank in Princes Dock, Glasgow, in 1991.

In 1990, a new group called the Clyde Ship Trust bought the ship for just £1. They prepared it for moving. In August 1990, it was towed to Princes Dock.

However, in early 1991, the ship sank at its moorings for unknown reasons. The Clyde Ship Trust couldn't afford to rescue it.

Rescue by Scottish Maritime Museum

City of Adelaide being raised at Govan in 1991
City of Adelaide being lifted in Govan in 1992.
City of Adelaide being salvaged
City of Adelaide was rescued by the Scottish Maritime Museum in 1992 and moved to Irvine.

In 1992, with help from Historic Scotland and Scottish Enterprise, the ship was rescued by the Scottish Maritime Museum. It was moved to Irvine, North Ayrshire, with plans to preserve and restore it. The ship was recognized as a very important part of the UK's historic ships.

Work continued until 1999. After that, funding for the Scottish Maritime Museum changed, and work on City of Adelaide stopped. The museum was asked to move the ship from the slipway where it was stored.

Clipper Ship City of Adelaide Ltd. (CSCOAL)

On September 6, 2013, the ownership of the ship was transferred to a new group called Clipper Ship City of Adelaide Ltd. (CSCOAL).

Saving and Moving the Ship to Australia

The Challenge to Save the Ship

After 1999, the Scottish Maritime Museum faced financial difficulties. They had to pay a penalty fee for keeping City of Adelaide on the slipway. In May 2000, they even asked for permission to take the ship apart. However, many people and organizations from around the world objected, including the Australian Foreign Minister. The council refused to allow the demolition in 2001.

Meeting with the Duke of Edinburgh

City of Adelaide 2001 Prince Philip Conference
Delegates from South Australia and Sunderland on board City of Adelaide during a meeting led by the Duke of Edinburgh.

In September 2001, The Duke of Edinburgh organized a meeting in Glasgow to discuss the ship's future. Everyone agreed that City of Adelaide was a very important historic vessel. They also agreed that there weren't enough resources in Scotland to save it. The Duke suggested that the ship should be moved from the slipway. It was also decided that the ship should go back to its original name, City of Adelaide.

New Plans and Delays

Clipper ship Carrick - City of Adelaide - geograph.org.uk - 360635
City of Adelaide in April 2005.

In 2003, a businessman named Mike Edwards donated money for preservation work. He explored restoring the ship for tourist sailing, but it was too expensive to make it seaworthy for passengers. It was decided it would be better as a static exhibit. This gave the ship a few more years of protection.

By 2006, the Scottish Maritime Museum was again in a difficult spot. The river near the ship had become very shallow, making it hard to move the ship. The museum again applied to take the ship apart. Many people objected, especially after a fire broke out on the Cutty Sark, the only other surviving clipper.

Rescue Efforts Begin

Bus advertisement
A bus advertisement used to promote an online petition to save the ship.

The decision to deconstruct the ship made groups in Australia and Sunderland work harder to save it. The Australian group, Clipper Ship "City of Adelaide" Ltd (CSCOAL), planned to move the ship to Port Adelaide in South Australia. They started an online petition asking the British Prime Minister to help save the ship and give it to the people of South Australia. Many important Australians signed a letter supporting this.

The Scottish Maritime Museum asked for bids to either demolish or move the ship. CSCOAL submitted a bid to move the whole ship, not just pieces. The museum was in a tough situation, facing high costs. The Scottish Government had to decide whether to pay for the ship's demolition or its removal from Scotland.

Choosing the Best Option

In March 2010, the Scottish Government looked at different options for the ship. These included taking it apart, moving it elsewhere in Scotland, moving it to Sunderland, or moving it to Australia.

In May 2010, a diary from James Anderson McLauchlan, a Scot who sailed on City of Adelaide in 1874, was presented to highlight the ship's human history. The Duke of Edinburgh also spoke about the ship's difficult situation.

On August 28, 2010, it was announced that City of Adelaide would not be taken apart. CSCOAL's plan to move the ship to Australia was chosen as the best option. The cost to transport it to Australia was estimated at A$5 million.

Getting Ready for the Journey

City of Adelaide transfer to barge
City of Adelaide being moved onto a barge after over 20 years on land.
City of Adelaide on barge Sept 2013
City of Adelaide on the transportation barge, ready to leave Irvine, Scotland.

Before the ship could be moved, a detailed survey of the River Irvine was done because it had become shallow. A 3D laser survey of City of Adelaide was also completed. This helped design the special cradle needed to move the ship. The ship's timbers were also cleaned and treated.

In 2011, companies in South Australia built the 100-tonne steel cradle for the ship. Parts of the cradle arrived in Scotland in January 2012.

There was a delay of almost a year because the Scottish Maritime Museum had long talks with the slipway owners to get access to their land. During this time, CSCOAL sent the ship's timber rudder to South Australia. This was to test the customs and quarantine rules for exporting from the UK and importing into Australia.

The agreement to access the slipway was reached in March 2013. CSCOAL then sent a project manager to Scotland to assemble the cradle under the ship.

The actual journey of City of Adelaide from Scotland to South Australia began in September 2013. The ship, on its cradle, was moved onto a barge and taken to Chatham, Kent. On September 20, 2013, City of Adelaide left the Irvine River. It arrived at Chatham Docks on September 25, 2013.

There was a brief delay because funding for the journey to Australia had not been approved by the new Australian government. CSCOAL arranged for the ship to be towed to Greenwich, near Cutty Sark. On October 18, the Duke of Edinburgh officially renamed the ship City of Adelaide again. The next day, the Australian Government approved the A$850,000 grant for the transport.

On October 24, City of Adelaide arrived in Dordrecht, Netherlands, for special treatment to meet Australian quarantine rules. After this, on November 22, 2013, the clipper was lifted onto the large cargo ship MV Palanpur for its journey to South Australia.

The Final Voyage Home

City of Adelaide clipper adjacent Torrens Island
City of Adelaide clipper on MV Palanpur, sailing up the Port River, near Torrens Island.
'Bradley' barge
The Bradley barge, where City of Adelaide was placed.

One hundred and forty-nine years after its first trip to Adelaide, City of Adelaide began its last journey home. It left Rotterdam, Netherlands, on November 26, 2013, on the deck of MV Palanpur. The ship crossed the Atlantic, stopped in Norfolk, Virginia, and then continued south.

On January 5, 2014, it briefly stopped in Cape Town, South Africa, a port it had visited before. After another stop in Port Hedland, Western Australia, the City of Adelaide finally arrived at the Outer Harbor of its home port, Port Adelaide, on February 3, 2014.

Temporary Home in Port Adelaide

After arriving at Berth 18 in the Port River, City of Adelaide was lifted from Palanpur onto an 800-tonne barge called Bradley. This was a long process.

On the evening of February 6, the ship was moved further up the river to Dock 1 in Port Adelaide's inner harbor. It stayed there for some time while a permanent location was chosen. A celebration for the ship's 150th anniversary was held on May 17, 2014.

In April 2017, the South Australian Government announced that Dock 2 would become the area for all of Port Adelaide's historic ships. On July 18, 2017, Mrs. Pamela Whittle, a descendant of Captain David Bruce, made a generous donation to help restore the ship. This money will be used to recreate the Captain's living area.

A new Coat of Arms, ordered by the Adelaide City Council, was placed on the ship's stern on October 15, 2017. On January 10, 2018, the ship was moved a short distance within Dock One. On March 15, 2018, a children's activity book about the ship was launched. In November 2018, the ship's wheel, added by the Royal Navy in 1923, was put on display.

On November 29, 2019, City of Adelaide was towed to its permanent home in Dock 2, Port Adelaide.

Permanent Home for the Ship

City of Adelaide is now in Dock 2, still on the Bradley barge. There are plans to move the ship from the barge onto the land in 2021. CSCOAL has a long-term lease for the land from the South Australian Government. They plan to create a "seaport village" with City of Adelaide as its main attraction.

Images for kids

kids search engine
City of Adelaide (1864) Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.