The South Australian Maritime Museum’s collection began in 1872 to preserve, explore and celebrate the human history of our oceans and rivers.

The oldest Australia’s great nautical collections has 25 historic vessels of various sizes, most of which are in storage.

The collection includes the steam tug Yelta and the former police launch Archie Badenoch, which are both still afloat and used for harbour cruises; the ketch Nelcebee, the oldest powered ship in Australia, is on hardstand on Dock 2.

The City of Adelaide Preservation Trust is seeking to return the historic clipper City of Adelaide from Scotland to Port Adelaide, where she is expected to arrive in early 2013.[82] The City of Adelaide has a strong connection with South Australia, to which she made 23 voyages between 1864 and 1886, bringing an estimated 889 passengers who came to settle in South Australia.