CITY OF ADELAIDE    1864

Welcome to our City of Adelaide website celebrating this remarkable and exceptionally historic passenger clipper ship. This unique passenger cargo sailing ship survives today as the last of the passenger clipper ships. These in many respects were the sailing predecessors of the ocean liner. She was built by William Pile, Hay & Co. in Sunderland and she was launched on the 7th May 1864. Between 1864 and 1887, the City of Adelaide made 46 voyages between England and South Australia – 23 outward and return - bringing hundreds of families from England, Scotland, Ireland and other European countries.

After working for various owners her ocean going career ended in 1893 when she became a hospital ship in Southampton. In 1923 she was renamed HMS Carrick and became a Royal Naval Reserve training ship on the Clyde. In 1992 she was preserved by the Scottish Maritime Museum who intended to restore her to her former glory as a passenger clipper ship and thus she would become an iconic tourist attraction. However due to lack of funding and resources this never was accomplished. She lingered on in deteriorating condition on her slipway at the Scottish Maritime Museum, Irvine.  In May 2007 permission was given to sensitively deconstruct the City of Adelaide so that parts of her can be preserved in museums. However several lobby groups in Britain and Australia are campaigning to prevent the destruction of this exceptionally historic ship.

Her Regular Service Route: Great Britain to Australia via Cape Horn

London to Adelaide, South Australia via Cape Horn