The City of Adelaide is today the…

The City of Adelaide is today the world's oldest surviving clipper ship, one of only two surviving composite clippers (other is the Cutty Sark; built 1869), one of only three surviving sailing ships (the only one of these a passenger ship) to have taken emigrants from the British Isles (the other two are the Edwin Fox and the Star of India), and the last survivor of the timber trade between North America and the United Kingdom.

Captain David Bruce had had the City of Adelaide built expressly for the South Australia trade after having gained much experience on the London to Adelaide run with his ship the Irene.

The order for the ship had been given to William Pile, Hay, and Company of Sunderland and it launches on May 7, 1864.

As a fast sailing ship, between 1864 and 1887 the City of Adelaide will make twenty-three annual return voyages transporting passengers and goods from London and Plymouth to Adelaide, South Australia.

On the return voyages the ship will carry passengers, wool and copper from Adelaide and Port Augusta to London.

During this period it will play an important part in emigration to Australia.