South Australia wins bid for world’s oldest clipper ship
Media Release
28 August 2010
The historic 1864 clipper ship 'City of Adelaide' has been saved and will be moved from Scotland to Adelaide, South Australia.
Scottish Government Minister for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, said tonight (Saturday 7.00pm CST) that Adelaide had been identified as the only “viable alternative to deconstruction”.
City of Adelaide Preservation Trust Chairman, Creagh O’Connor, said he was “thrilled and delighted” with the news and elated that the decade long campaign to bring the clipper to Adelaide had succeeded.
The Preservation Trust proposes to preserve the 'City of Adelaide' on a land-based maritime precinct at Port Adelaide, and provide for the co-location of other historic vessels at the same site.
The South Australian Government has agreed to provide land for the maritime precinct.
The objective is for the ship to be moved in time to celebrate South Australia’s 175th anniversary of settlement in 2011.
Trust Director and Naval Architect, Peter Roberts, said the 'City of Adelaide' was in "quite sound condition" for a ship built in 1864, and that the massive size (55m length) of its hull will make an exceptional display. “Until only 20 years ago the ship was in use as naval club rooms and a restaurant,” he said.
The South Australian campaign, with extensive community support, had succeeded against bids to demolish the ship and the passionate campaign to relocate it to the English city of Sunderland where it was built.
Ongoing discussions will occur to further develop educational and cultural links between Scotland and South Australia.
The 'City of Adelaide' undertook twenty three (23) return trips between the UK and Adelaide, carrying thousands of passengers and significant amounts of cargo between the two countries.
Genealogists have calculated that almost a quarter of a million Australians can trace their heritage to passengers and crew of the historic ship.
While much funding has already been secured, community support and further donations are being encouraged through the Trust’s web site www.cityofadelaide.org.au.
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Legend
The above photographs were taken at the time of the announcement and are courtesy of Glasgow journalist and photographer, Hugh Dougherty (Old Glory Magazine). From left to right, the details of the images are as follows:
- A beaming City of Adelaide Preservation Trust member, Rosemary McKay, in front of the 'City of Adelaide' after the announcement by Minister Hyslop.
- Left to right: Rosemary McKay, Chair of Trustees of Scottish Maritime Museum Sam Galbraith, Minister for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop, Cunninghame South MSP Irene Oldfather, North Ayrshire Council Provost Pat McPhee, with model of the 'City of Adelaide'.
- City of Adelaide Preservation Trust member Rosemary McKay with Minister for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop.
City of Adelaide Preservation Trust member, Rosemary McKay, was born in Glasgow and migrated to South Australia in the 1960s. Rosemary describes herself as "a proud South Australian Scot".
For further information
Director Peter Christopher, +61 (0)8 8337 5645 (After Hours)
Director and Naval Architect Peter Roberts, +61(0) 419 773 332
Rann Communication
Christopher Rann, Managing Director chrisrann@rann.com.au
Renae Sullivan, Executive Assistant renae@rann.com.au
Level 1, 18-20 Grenfell Street
Adelaide 5000
Phone: +61 (0)8 8211 7771
Facsimile: +61 (0)8 8212 2272
