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Wampoo

Vessel numberHV000852

Maker Vic Hoyle

Date1954

Terms

DescriptionWampoo was built in 1954 by Vic Hoyle in Huskisson NSW, its hull constructed from either NZ Kauri or spotted gum with a battened seam carvel construction. It is an open small wooden fishing boat, 15ft in length, with an original rudder, tiller, and engine. The motor is a two cylinder Clae petrol side valve Model F10, built by Clae Engine Pty Ltd in Bankstown. Wampoo’s deck is made with marine ply, and it is a flat-bottomed vessel.

Settree Boat builders in Huskisson have an extensive history of providing fishing trawlers for commercial fishing, but they also built smaller recreational fishing boats for locals such as Wampoo. This boat captures the historical and social context of the local village and recreational fishing from the 1950s to the 1970s. It was used entirely in Jervis Bay until it was sold to the current owners.

Wampoo was originally owned by three friends who agreed that as each one passed away whoever was left would become the owner/s. The boat was originally called We Three but was nicknamed Wampoo because of the sound of the motor. The last of the original three owners of Wampoo was Tim Vost, the grandson of Vic Vost, the local Huskisson butcher. At one stage it fell into disuse and needed repairs which were carried out by John Settree.

Following Tim Vost’s ownership Wampoo was in a state of disrepair and had been sunk in Currambene Creek. Purchased by the current owners in 1997 the boat required work to bring it back to life. Wampoo has spent the past 25 years happily moored in Sussex Inlet. It has been lovingly cared for throughout that time and is regularly anti-fouled and painted. There are photos of John Settree working on the boat at the Settree boatyard dating from the 1980s. A custom-made full storm cover protects Wampoo from the elements.

In 2023 Jervis Bay Maritime Museum has expressed interest in taking on Wampoo as a museum vessel. Wampoo would compliment Kingfisher another Settree boat at the museum and provide the museum volunteers with a working boat to use.

SignificanceWampoo is a 20ft open fishing boat built in 1954 by Vic Hoyle in Huskisson NSW. It was used for recreational fishing for over forty years in Jervis Bay, and has its original rudder, tiller and a two cylinder Clae petrol side valve engine. The vessels name is a nod to the sound of its motor. The Settree Boat builders in Huskisson have an extensive history of providing fishing trawlers for commercial fishing, their story represented at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum through the collection vessels Kingfisher and Porthole. In addition to these vessels, Wampoo captures the historical and social context of the local village and recreational fishing from the 1950s to the 1970s.