Dozens of prominent Australians are behind an appeal to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to prevent the demolition of the world’s oldest surviving clipper ship, the City of Adelaide.
Led by the Queen’s representative and Governor of South Australia, Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce, other notable Australians include United Nations Special Envoy to Cyprus and former Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer; State and Federal ministers, the Lord Mayor of Adelaide and four former Adelaide Lord Mayors; several current and former Chancellors of Australian universities; and numerous academic, business and political figures.
Built in 1864, the rare passenger ship - which is considered to be of greater historical significance than the Cutty Sark - made annual runs from London to South Australia carrying thousands of UK and European migrants who would lay the foundation for the state’s economic and social history. Today, a quarter of a million living descendants can trace their origins to passengers that sailed on the City of Adelaide.
The clipper ship currently sits on a slipway in Scotland and the Scottish Maritime Museum has called tenders to demolish it. The North Ayrshire Council in Scotland has approved the museum’s application to demolish which stated the cost could be as high as £650,000 (A$1.3m). This decision was forced on the museum after the landowners (of the slipway) called for the ship’s removal, purportedly for developers, to build a housing complex. Tenders for demolition close on November 23.
The City of Adelaide Preservation Trust, which is driving the campaign, says their major objective is to move the ship to a temporary location in the United Kingdom, which will cost in the region of £750,000 (A$1.5m).
“Ultimately, we wish to transport the vessel to Adelaide – and this can be undertaken for a further £1.2 million (A$2.5m) – but our first priority is to ensure it is not demolished,” said naval architect Peter Roberts, peter.roberts@cityofadelaide.org.au , a descendant of one of the earlier migrants.
“I would also like to dispel rumours that the vessel is in disrepair and rotting. This is definitely not the case and until the 1980s, it was used as clubrooms for the local naval reserves.”
Roberts said preserving the ship for future generations is a far better outcome than demolishing it.
“To keep down the costs, we are seeking support from Australian and UK companies and individuals to assist us move the City of Adelaide to a temporary site in the UK,” he said.
