Four views of O-DEAR before and after restoration.

Images(4)

Len Ely on one of the O-Boat Hire company launches similar to O-DEAR on the Noosa River.

O-Dear

Vessel numberHV000578

Previous owner O-Boat Hire Company

Builder Jack Abbodine

Date1961

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 5.08 m x 4.88 m x 1.73 m x 0.41 m (16.67 ft x 16.01 ft x 5.68 ft x 1.35 ft)

DescriptionO-DEAR was designed and built in 1961 by local Noosaville builder Jack Abbodine. Based on the traditional flat bottom fishing boats, it has a simple to build flat bottom and planked sides, is 5 metres long and 1.73 metres wide, and ideal for fishing. They used the locally made Olds petrol engines from their factory in nearby Maryborough, and O-DEAR retains its original engine, housed in an engine box almost at midships.

The craft was built for the O Boat company, but the type were apparently also known as T boats, which came from the rival T- Boat hire company. However the O Boat hire company was the first of the hire boat companies to be started, opening for business in 1948, run by local identity Len Ely. In 1939 he had built a jetty, but had to wait until 1948 to add a shop and commence a hire business. The O was chosen as a symbol taken from the target symbol of a ring and dot, it was something easy to recognise. T Boats started later on initially called tthe Terrace Boat Company. In 2013 both companies are still in operation with modern designs and a wide range of vessels for hire.

O-DEAR was sold to a private buyer in 2004, changed hands in 2005 and again to the current owners in 2010. They have overhauled and rebuilt the craft and use it for their own fishing and boating in the Noosa region.

SignificanceO-DEAR is a wooden hire boat from the Noosa River in Queensland and built in 1961. It is one of the very few remaining examples of this local fishing boat that was common from the 1940s onwards, and at one time two companies had sizable fleets of these craft available for hire on the river. For many people hiring a craft represented their only opportunity to go boating, often when on holidays with the family.