PEDARE en route to Goolwa in 2023 for the South Australian Wooden Boat Festival

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HMAS Pedare as Naval Auxiliary Patrol vessel

Pedare

Vessel numberHV000830

Previous owner Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve (1921 - 1973)

Designer John Phelps

Date1920s

DimensionsVessel Dimensions: 12.19 m × 0.64 m (40 ft × 2.1 ft)

DescriptionPedare was designed by John Phelps and constructed in South Australia during the late 1920s, its build period protracted due to the impacts of the depression. It is a 40 ft river cruiser, significant in its previous role as a World War Two Naval Auxiliary Patrol (NAP) vessel. Pedare’s carvel planked hull is constructed of Jarrah wood, its deck of plywood. Its hull is vee shaped, original and in excellent condition. Pedare has a wheelhouse and cabin aft, also constructed of Jarrah, and an open foredeck.

The exact location of Pedare’s construction is not known, however it has been suggested that the vessel was constructed at either Clausen’s boat yard on Fletcher st, Largs Bay, Adelaide or at Porters in Port Adelaide. It is possible that Pedare was constructed at Phelps’ workshop in Prospect, Adelaide, under the supervision of George Ross. Pedare was launched in 1935 as cruiser under the name ‘Automne’.

On the 13th March 1943 Pedare was commissioned as HMAS Pedare, serving as a NAP vessel until the 22nd of May 1944 under the command of First Lieutenant Norman Howard. Pedare’s owner Len Tolley was the state squadron skipper, and HMAS Pedare was given N1 as its number. As a large section of the RAN fleet was deployed in foreign waters during World War Two, the defence of Australia’s coastlines fell largely on NAP vessels. This fleet was entrusted with the task of safeguarding Australia’s inner harbours, ports, rivers and estuaries against enemy sabotage or attack. The fleet was primarily comprised of former pleasure craft such as Pedare offered freely by their owners. At its peak in October 1942 the NAP fleet comprised over 3000 mobilized and unmobilized reserves.

HMAS Pedare patrolled an area from Port Adelaide to Kangaroo Island, and was fitted with two depth charges and an Oerlikon machine gun on its foredeck. It further served as an air-sea rescue vessel. Its period of service aligned with the merging of the NAP with the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve, which occurred in May 1942.

Following World War Two Pedare passed through a succession of private owners and was used as both a recreational and a fishing vessel. In 1994, a new transom was fitted to the vessel and in 1998 the deck and superstructure was rebuilt. In 2003 a new diesel inboard motor was fitted. As of 2022 Pedare is in excellent condition and is used as a river cruiser moored at Mannum on the Murray River in South Australia.

SignificancePedare is a 40ft river cruiser designed by John Phelps and constructed in South Australia during the late 1920s. It is significant in its role as a World War Two Naval Auxiliary Patrol (NAP) vessel. Commissioned in March 1943 and serving for a year, HMAS Pedare patrolled an area from Port Adelaide to Kangaroo Island. It was fitted with two depth charges and an Oerlikon machine gun on its foredeck in case of enemy attack. HMAS Pedare further served in the capacity as an air-sea rescue vessel. Pedare’s carvel planked hull constructed of Jarrah is original, with a deck and superstructure rebuild in 1998 and a new engine fitting in 2003. As of 2022, it is in excellent condition and used as a river cruiser at Mannum on the Murray River in South Australia. In 2023 Pedare was fitted with a new prop shaft, and had sections of its gunnel and deck timbers replaced.