Historic clipper ship the City of Adelaide moved for first time in 20 years ahead of trip to Port Adelaide
THE world's oldest surviving clipper ship has been moved from its Scottish resting place of the past 20 years in preparation for its journey to Port Adelaide.
THE world's oldest surviving clipper ship has been moved from its Scottish resting place of the past 20 years in preparation for its journey to Port Adelaide.
BBC reporter Hugh Williams told ABC Adelaide radio today significant steps had been made as the ship prepared to make the 5271km trip.
"In the last few minutes, the City of Adelaide clipper, built in Sunderland in 1864 and specifically made for South Australian trade, has moved for the first time in 20 years," Mr Williams said.
"She has been sitting on the quayside at the Scottish Maritime Museum since she sank in the River Clyde in Glasgow."
The ship has today been moved on to a metal cradle, which will be used to move the ship onto a Dutch barge.
Mr Williams said the Scottish Maritime Museum had "high hopes" of restoring the ship and making it a key visitor attraction but "could never raise the money".
The City of Adelaide Preservation Trust bid for the ship in 2010 to be sent to South Australia and made into a tourist attraction at Port Adelaide.
"The maritime museum applied twice for permission to demolish her because she is on dry land at the moment and is protected by the historic listed building legislation in Scotland," Mr Williams said.
"It was granted the second time but the City of Adelaide Preservation Trust from SA stepped in and the Scottish Government decided it was a viable route and would save the ship."
The decision has caused controversy among Scottish taxpayers, as the Scottish government will pay Pound750,000 ($1.2 million) to fund the trip.
The ship will travel to London, where it will sit alongside The Cutty Sark - a famous British clipper ship built in 1869 - on the River Thames for a month.
It will then be decontaminated for quarantine purposes before making its way to Port Adelaide.
It is expected to arrive by July 2014.