SA’s ‘maritime Sovereign Hill’ could provide extra boost to booming Port Adelaide
The vision for the historic City of Adelaide clipper ship’s next chapter has been revealed with plans for it to be the centrepiece of a new seaport village tourist attraction. See the designs.
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Creating a maritime version of Sovereign Hill as a major drawcard for Port Adelaide is the vision of the Clipper Ship City of Adelaide group.
The organisation behind bringing the historical vessel to SA has released a strategic masterplan for its next life as part of a tourist attraction, which includes a possible fish market.
A 14-year campaign to save the City of Adelaide – the world’s oldest surviving clipper ship – was resolved in November last year.
The ship was moved to a new home, from Dock One to Dock Two at Port Adelaide, to become the centrepiece of the a new seaport village tourist attraction.
Clipper Ship City of Adelaide director Peter Christopher said the ultimate goal was to offer a “complete maritime experience” and “the chance to explore the days of yesteryear”, much like Ballarat’s Sovereign Hill open-air museum.
While the project is currently unfunded, he hoped it would guide the overall development of Dock Two as a maritime precinct.
“It’s always been part of our plan to have a seaport village developed around the ship, to provide a source of income to enable work to be done on it,” Mr Christopher said.
Mr Christopher said the plan took more than a year’s worth of work.
One of the key findings was that commercial opportunities needed to be investigated as a matter of priority to ensure the financial sustainability of the Dock Two plan, in particular, the possibility of introducing a fish market.
“We’ve had more than 10 meetings with the fishing industry to explore the option (of setting up a fish market) and it’s a serious proposition,” Mr Christopher said.
“What we’re looking at is more than just a fish market, it could be processing and storage.”
Across the past 20 years, the clipper ship group has raised and spent about $7 million on the clipper ship.
The vessel was brought to Port Adelaide from Scotland in 2014.
Income was now being generated through tours and events on the ship, but Mr Christopher said commercial development was crucial.
“We’ve got a proven track record in attracting sponsors and financial backers,” he said.
“We’re also having discussions about linking in with other museums.”
He said another key part of the project was getting the ship off the barge it’s presently on and onto land.
“It will take the project to a different level and make the ship far more accessible,” he said.
Mr Christopher believes the development will only help to make the Port stronger.
“We want to help create business for others in the Port,” he said.
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