SS City of Adelaide (1863)
Encyclopedia
The City of Adelaide was a passenger steam ship launched in 1863 in Glasgow, Scotland. The vessel was later converted to a Barque
for use as a cargo transport. In 1912 the vessel was gutted by fire, and in 1916 the burnt hulk was run aground in Cockle Bay, Magnetic Island
, Australia
. During the Second World War four people were killed in a training accident when a RAAF aircraft struck the masts of the vessel.
, Glasgow by J & G Thomson. The vessel ran regular passenger services between several destinations including Melbourne, Sydney, Honolulu and San Francisco. Having undergone a refit in 1871 the vessel operated for a further 14 years before being retired from service in 1885. Following the merger of the Australasian Steam Navigation Company with the Queensland Steamship Company, in 1887, City of Adelaide continued in service with the successor company Australasian United Steam Navigation Company.
She was sold in 1890 to W. A. Ritchie, of Sydney
, and was converted to a four masted barque
by removing her boilers and engines. In 1895 the barque was sold onto G J Robertson of Sydney. In 1902 the vessel was purchased by Howard Smith Company of Townsville
and used as a hulk
for the storage of coal. In 1912 the vessel caught fire and burnt for a number of days before flames could be extinguished. The burnt hulk of the vessel was then purchased in 1915, by George Butler, the son of the first European resident of Magnetic Island. Butler had the hull stripped, and an attempt was made to float the vessel to Picnic Bay where it would be scuttled to provide a breakwater for a jetty. However, as the vessel was being transported it ran aground off Cockle Bay.
During World War II
the wreck of the vessel was used as a practice target by bomber pilots from the nearby Garbutt Airfield
. On October 22, 1942, six Royal Australian Air Force
Bristol Beaufort
bombers of 100 Squadron
were participating in a coordinated mock torpedo attack on Townsville Harbour followed by a coordinated practice bombing of the wreck of the SS City of Adelaide. Following a successful mock attack on Townsville Harbour, the six bombers climbed to approximately 1,000 ft and proceeded in a vee formation towards Cockle Bay. Several of the aircraft dived upon the wreck in a bombing run, during which one of the aircraft appeared to strike one of the masts of the sunken vessel, before crashing into the shallow ocean approximately 700 meters from the vessel. The plane's fuselage disintegrated on impact instantly killing three RAAF officers and a US Navy Officer aboard.
On Christmas Eve 1971 Cyclone Althea struck the coast of northern Queensland near Magnetic Island, causing the partial collapse of part of the wreck's iron hull. The sunken hull of the vessel has become an artificial island hosting a variety of plant and bird life approximately 300 meters offshore of Cockle Bay.
Barque
A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
for use as a cargo transport. In 1912 the vessel was gutted by fire, and in 1916 the burnt hulk was run aground in Cockle Bay, Magnetic Island
Magnetic Island
Magnetic Island is an island offshore from the city of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. This mountainous island in Cleveland Bay has effectively become a suburb of Townsville, with 2,107 permanent residents. The island is accessible from Townsville Breakwater to Nelly Bay Harbour by ferry...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. During the Second World War four people were killed in a training accident when a RAAF aircraft struck the masts of the vessel.
History
Launched on 22 December 1863, the SS City of Adelaide was commissioned for the Australasian Steam Navigation Company and built in GovanGovan
Govan is a district and former burgh now part of southwest City of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated west of Glasgow city centre, on the south bank of the River Clyde, opposite the mouth of the River Kelvin and the district of Partick....
, Glasgow by J & G Thomson. The vessel ran regular passenger services between several destinations including Melbourne, Sydney, Honolulu and San Francisco. Having undergone a refit in 1871 the vessel operated for a further 14 years before being retired from service in 1885. Following the merger of the Australasian Steam Navigation Company with the Queensland Steamship Company, in 1887, City of Adelaide continued in service with the successor company Australasian United Steam Navigation Company.
She was sold in 1890 to W. A. Ritchie, of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, and was converted to a four masted barque
Barque
A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
by removing her boilers and engines. In 1895 the barque was sold onto G J Robertson of Sydney. In 1902 the vessel was purchased by Howard Smith Company of Townsville
Townsville, Queensland
Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Australia, in the state of Queensland. Adjacent to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef, it is in the dry tropics region of Queensland. Townsville is Australia's largest urban centre north of the Sunshine Coast, with a 2006 census...
and used as a hulk
Hulk (ship)
A hulk is a ship that is afloat, but incapable of going to sea. Although sometimes used to describe a ship that has been launched but not completed, the term most often refers to an old ship that has had its rigging or internal equipment removed, retaining only its flotational qualities...
for the storage of coal. In 1912 the vessel caught fire and burnt for a number of days before flames could be extinguished. The burnt hulk of the vessel was then purchased in 1915, by George Butler, the son of the first European resident of Magnetic Island. Butler had the hull stripped, and an attempt was made to float the vessel to Picnic Bay where it would be scuttled to provide a breakwater for a jetty. However, as the vessel was being transported it ran aground off Cockle Bay.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the wreck of the vessel was used as a practice target by bomber pilots from the nearby Garbutt Airfield
RAAF Base Townsville
RAAF Base Townsville is, along with RAAF Base Tindal and RAAF Base Darwin, one of northern Australia's primary defence installations. It is also Headquarters for No...
. On October 22, 1942, six Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
Bristol Beaufort
Bristol Beaufort
The Bristol Beaufort was a British twin-engined torpedo bomber designed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, and developed from experience gained designing and building the earlier Blenheim light bomber....
bombers of 100 Squadron
No. 100 Squadron RAAF
No. 100 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force bomber and maritime patrol squadron of World War II. The Squadron was formed in 1942 and was disbanded in 1946.-Squadron history:...
were participating in a coordinated mock torpedo attack on Townsville Harbour followed by a coordinated practice bombing of the wreck of the SS City of Adelaide. Following a successful mock attack on Townsville Harbour, the six bombers climbed to approximately 1,000 ft and proceeded in a vee formation towards Cockle Bay. Several of the aircraft dived upon the wreck in a bombing run, during which one of the aircraft appeared to strike one of the masts of the sunken vessel, before crashing into the shallow ocean approximately 700 meters from the vessel. The plane's fuselage disintegrated on impact instantly killing three RAAF officers and a US Navy Officer aboard.
On Christmas Eve 1971 Cyclone Althea struck the coast of northern Queensland near Magnetic Island, causing the partial collapse of part of the wreck's iron hull. The sunken hull of the vessel has become an artificial island hosting a variety of plant and bird life approximately 300 meters offshore of Cockle Bay.