It’s not often that you hear of 150th birthdays is it? Let alone get invited to one. But that’s what this is all about. The ‘City of Adelaide’ clipper ship turns 150 in May 2014 and everyone is invited to the party.
And let’s face it, we’re really not likely to get invited to anyone elses 150th birthday party are we!
The City of Adelaide is the world’s oldest clipper ship and only 1 of 2 that remain in the world, and it has a close association with South Australia, and not simply beacuse of its name. But rather around 900 passengers travelled to South Australia on the ship from 1864 to 1886. Men, women and families from England, all eager to start a new life in South Australia. There are an estimated quarter of a million people who are direct descendants of these emigrants.
For those who have been following the story of this ship either through my blog posts (here and here), or through the news in general, you’d know that after many, many, many years of petitioning and fundraising the “City of Adelaide” clipper ship took its last journey travelling from Scotland to South Australia … so is now home! Well sort of!
She is now in Adelaide, but the South Australian government are still to find her a proper ‘home’. One that will help preserve her (afterall she is 150 years old), as well as being a tourist attraction.
Saturday May the 17th is the date of the party, and it will be a big Community Event which will give visitors a chance to see the ship up close and also, in an Australian first, view a live feed of vision inside the ship.
The event organisers are expecting 15,000 people to attend this very special event and invite all South Australians to come along and enjoy the day. There’ll be a sailing flotilla, food, drinks, art and craft stalls, as well as maritime/history/genealogy groups (including yours truly), and entertainment featuring buskers and bands. So there will be something for the whole family to enjoy.
So come along and help celebrate this amazing slice of South Australia’s history.
THE DETAILS
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WHEN: Saturday May 17th
WHERE: Dock 1, Port Adelaide (see map above)
TIME: 10am-5pm
COST: Gold coin donation
KEEP UP WITH THE NEWS
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150th Birthday Facebook Facebook event
City of Adelaide Clipper Ship Facebook page
City of Adelaide Clipper Ship on Twitter
MORE INFO
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About the 150th birthday celebrations: http://goo.gl/BdfbnX
About the Clipper ship: www.cityofadelaide.org.au
A list of passengers who travelled on the City of Adelaide: http://goo.gl/DR9kvQ
