SS City of Adelaide (1863)

City of Adelaide between 1871 and 1890,
as a two-masted steamship
History
Australia
NameCity of Adelaide
Owner
Port of registry
BuilderJ & G Thomson, Govan
Yard number67
Launched22 December 1863
Completed1864
Out of service1912
Identification
Fate
  • 1912 caught fire
  • 1915 bought for scuttling
  • 1916 ran aground
General characteristics
Type
  • iron-hulled ship:
  • 1864: 3-masted sail-steamer
  • 1871: 2-masted steamship
  • 1890: 4-masted sailing barque
Tonnage
Length
  • 1863: 251.4 ft (76.6 m)
  • 1871: 252.8 ft (77.1 m)
  • 1893: 246.0 ft (75.0 m)
Beam28.3 ft (8.6 m)
Depth16.6 ft (5.1 m)
Installed poweruntil 1890: 200 HP
Propulsion
Sail plan1890: jackass barque

City of Adelaide was an iron-hulled ship that was launched in Scotland in 1863, spent a long career in Australian passenger and cargo service, and sank off the coast of Queensland in 1916. She served with several Australian shipowners, including the Australasian Steam Navigation Company, Australasian United Steam Navigation Company and Howard Smith Company.

City of Adelaide ship was built as a three-masted sail-steamer. In 1871 one of her masts was removed to increase her passenger accommodation. In 1890 her steam engine was removed and she was refitted as a four-masted jackass barque. In 1902 she was turned into a coal hulk. In 1912 she was gutted by fire.

In 1916 her burnt hulk ran aground in Cockle Bay, Magnetic Island, Queensland. In 1942 four people were killed when a Royal Australian Air Force aircraft collided with one of her masts. In 1971 Cyclone Althea broke up part of her wreck, but its remains are still visible in Cockle Bay.