City of Adelaide

The City of Adelaide is a historic clipper ship launched in 1864 from William Pile & Co's yard in Sunderland, England. As one of the few surviving 19th-century passenger ships, she played a crucial role in South Australia's colonization, completing more than 23 voyages carrying migrants to Adelaide and returning with wool cargoes.

Early Commercial Service (1864-1893)

From her launch until 1887, the City of Adelaide operated regular passenger and cargo services between Britain and Australia via the Cape of Good Hope. She could accommodate 300 passengers and made the journey more than 23 times, contributing significantly to South Australia's development.

In 1887, she transitioned to serving as a collier between the Tyne and Dover. By 1893, she found a new role as a hospital ship in Hampshire, England.

Naval Service (1923-1990)

In 1923, the British Admiralty purchased the vessel, renamed her HMS Carrick, and converted her into a training ship for the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve. She was moved to Greenock, Scotland in 1949 as a navy drill ship. By 1974, the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Club of Scotland was using her as their club headquarters.

Preservation Efforts (1990-Present)

After being sold to the Clyde Ship Trust for £2 in 1990, the ship sank in Glasgow's River Clyde in 1991. Following her raising in 1992, she received an 'A' class heritage listing as Britain's only floating 19th-century sailing ship. A campaign led by the Adelaide Advertiser in 2000 prevented her demolition.

The vessel returned to Port Adelaide in February 2014, where she now resides in Dock Two as the planned centerpiece of a Maritime Village. Local enthusiasts continue restoration work and conduct regular tours.

Name Change Ceremony

A notable ceremony at Greenwich marked her name change, attended by the Duke of Edinburgh. Traditional maritime rituals included burning the name HMS Carrick in a champagne ice bucket and pouring champagne into the Thames to "appease Neptune." During this event, she was positioned alongside her younger sister ship, the Cutty Sark.

Key Facts

Specification	Details
Built by	William Pile & Co, Sunderland
Launched	May 7, 1864
Tonnage	791 tons
Length	74 meters
Beam	9.81 meters
Propulsion	Sail (three-masted barque)
Capacity	300 passengers
Base Port	London (originally)