S.S City of Adelaide

The S.S City of Adelaide was a historical Australian shipwreck. It was built by J & G Thomson in Govan, Glasgow and launched on 22 December 1863. The ship had a registered length of 246.0 ft (75.0 m), a beam of 28.3 ft (8.6 m), and a depth of 16.6 ft (5.1 m).

It had a marine steam engine rated at 200 horsepower. The City of Adelaide served with multiple Australian shipowners, including the Australasian Steam Navigation Company, Australasian United Steam Navigation Company, and Howard Smith Company. It operated passenger services to various destinations such as Melbourne, Sydney, Honolulu, and San Francisco.

In 1871, the City of Adelaide was refitted with two masts to improve passenger accommodation. It continued operating for 14 years before being retired in 1885. After the merger of the Australasian Steam Navigation Company with the Queensland Steam Shipping Company in 1887, the ship remained in service with the successor company. It underwent various ownership changes and conversions, including being turned into a coal hulk.

In 1912, the City of Adelaide caught fire and burned for several days before the flames were extinguished. In 1915, the burnt hulk was purchased and stripped by George Butler. An attempt was made to float the vessel to Magnetic Island's Picnic Bay to serve as a breakwater, but it ran aground off Cockle Bay.

During World War II, the wreck was used for target practice by the Royal Australian Air Force. Tragedy struck in 1942 when a plane crashed into the wreck during a bombing run, resulting in the deaths of three