One of the most unusual wrecks in the world must be the SS City of Adelaide just off the coast of Magnetic Island by Townsville in northern Queensland. She is probably the most striking of the shipwrecks in the area (you will find around 20 shipwrecks clustered round the island). She is located just 300 meters (yards) offshore and at low tide, it is even possible to wade to the decaying wreck.
She is really a wreck that everyone could possibly get to see – unlike some wrecks such as the ghost fleet that was sunken in nuclear testing at Bikini Atoll (you'll be able to dive them today). The SS City of Adelaide can also be located near to Australia's world-famous Great Barrier Reef Body from the great natural wonders of the world that everybody really must see.
A brief history and Service of The SS City of Adelaide
She would be a steamship built for the Australasian Steam Navigation Company (she was built before Australia existed like a united country – such as the 13 Colonies before Federation).
She ran a normal passenger service to several destinations. The destinations included Melbourne, Sydney, Honolulu, and San Francisco. She served in her role as a passenger ship for many years before she was eventually converted to a coal storage vessel in 1902.
- Length: 80 Meters
- Built: In 1864 In Glasgow, Scotland
- Role: Passenger Ship Later Converted For Coal Storage
- Caught Fire: She Caught Fire And Burned A couple of Days
She was reconfigured and her boilers were removed. She was given a four-masted barque in 1890. When she was under sail, she was likened to a graceful bird flying – although which may be hard to picture taking a look at her tree-covered wreckage today.
But disaster struck in 1912 when her coal caught fire and she burned for 2 days. Incredibly the fire didn't completely destroy the ship.
Wrecking And Her Watery Grave Until Today
After the fireplace, she was purchased and plans were created for her to become refitted as accommodation for tourists, or like a breakwater for any jetty in Picnic Bay by George Butler. He had the hull stripped and tried to float the vessel to Magnetic Island's Picnic Bay. But she was destined for neither of those, while en route she ran aground in Cockle Bay.
- Purchased: She Was Purchased To Be Accommodation For Tourists Or Like a Breakwater for a Jetty
- Date: She Ran Aground in 1916
- Location: Cockle Bay
While she was no longer of any business interest, she did find a new use by the locals. They used her as a changing room when coming to swim around the wreck or collect the oysters that grew on her behalf sides. She became something of a local tourist attraction in the 1920s
- Changing Room: She Was a Changing Room for Local Tourists
During World War Two a fighter plane somehow crashed into her rear mast on the training exercise. Four servicemen were killed in the incident (three were Australians and something American). They were taking part in a coordinated mock torpedo attack on Townsville Harbour in 1942.
- Fighter Plane Crash: A WW2 Plane Crash In to the Wreck In WW2
She suffered extensive damage to her hull in 1971 during Cyclone Althea. The Cyclone caused the partial collapse of area of the wreck's iron hull.
- Cyclone Althea: Significantly Damaged Her in 1971
When she was wrecked it had not been a large news story. She was already stricken there was no lack of like (unlike the greater famous Yongala). In the future she is becoming less visible from the land.
Visiting And Other Shipwrecks Around Magnetic Island
Today she has become an artificial island and hosts a variety of plant and birdlife. She is probably the most unique and unusual attractions around australia.
- Coordinates: 19.174842°S 146.825471°E
- Cluster of Wrecks: The SS City of Adelaide Is among A Cluster of Wrecks Round the Island
The SS City of Adelaide is located around 70 kilometers (40 miles) north from the wreck from the Yongala (among the world's top dive sites). El born area is full of another 20 shipwrecks that, while they have great tourism potential, remained largely untapped. Today more effort is being taken to advertise these wrecks and boost tourism.
Several from the wrecks around Magnetic Island are so close to the shore, that one doesn't even have to be a diver to see them. This a part of Australia continues to be infamous because of its shallow water and its cyclone-prone weather.
