Popeye (boat)

Popeye is the name given to a series of motor launches which take paying passengers on pleasure cruises on Torrens Lake, in the North Parklands of Adelaide, capital of South Australia.

History

The original Popeye, a 25-foot (7.6 m) boat holding up to 20 passengers, was built for Gordon Stanley Watts, a Gallipoli veteran, by Harold Lounder in 1935 in one of several workshops which were then dotted along the banks of Torrens Lake. She proved so popular that in 1939^[1] a second boat, Miss Centenary, was purchased, which had previously run cruises at Glenelg. She did not however (according to the local legend) gain the same acceptance with the children, who preferred to "wait for Popeye", prompting Watts to re-christen her Popeye II.^[2]

Later three new 38-foot (12 m) jarrah hulled boats capable of carrying 40 passengers each were built at Port Adelaide; they were numbered Popeye 3, Popeye 4 and Popeye 5, running round trips between Elder Park and Adelaide Zoo. Apart from scheduled runs on weekends and holidays during the warmer months, Popeyes were available for private hire, for weddings, children's birthday parties and other events.^[3]

During the years that he was skipper of Popeye, if there were a large number of children, Watts would call out "Anyone's birthday today?". If so, the lucky child would be allowed to steer the boat. Amongst the other Popeye skippers were the boatbuilder Harold Lounder and Roland ("Sunny") Grey^[4]

In March 1962 Keith Altmann, owner of riverside café, later restaurant, Jolley's Boathouse, took over the Popeye business. In 1992 three new fibreglass launches Popeye I, Popeye II and Popeye III were launched as replacements for the ageing original wooden boats.^[5]

Significant events

• In 1938, boys from Prince Alfred College hired Popeye to celebrate their win in the annual "Head of the River" rowing eight race against St. Peter's College.^[6]
• In 1942 Popeye was employed as a gunship, when police with a shotgun attempted to rid Torrens Lake of cormorants (possibly the great cormorant), which had become a pest, attacking the lake's population of swans.^[7]
• In 1947 patients of the Adelaide Children's Hospital spastic centre were treated to a ride in Popeye in recognition of the centre's first birthday.^[8]
• In 1951 the two Popeyes acted as floating stages for a choral concert performed by four Adelaide choirs under the banner of the S.A. Arts Council for the state's jubilee^[9]
• In 1953, following a collision between Popeye 5 and a rented rowboat, Antonio Iuliano, a 24-year-old Adelaide man drowned. One of his companions was rescued by Ray Jolley,^[10] of Jolley's boathouse, and a third was rescued by Popeye 5.^[11]
• In early 1958 Elizabeth, the Queen Mother toured the Lake aboard Popeye 5, a spotlight on her while 200,000 voices sang Will Ye No Come Back Again.^[4]
• In March 1977 Popeye 5 hosted Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip followed by a choir in Popeye 4 during the Queen's third^[12] official visit to South Australia.
• In 1992 the Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, officially launched the three new Popeyes.^[5]

References

1. "Passing By.". The News (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 14 November 1939. p. 4. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
2. "Torrens Lake Has Story to Tell". The Mail (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 26 September 1942. p. 12. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
3. • Altmann, Keith; Butcher M, Rodda L, Stacey B, Stewien R, Venus R (1999). Ponds, ponts & Pop-eye : notes for an afternoon afloat on Adelaide's River Torrens. North Adelaide: Institution of Engineers Australia, South Australian Division., p.21
4. "Adelaide's Pride: "Popeye" Fleet". The Australian Women's Weekly (National Library of Australia). 19 November 1958. p. 32. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
5. Altmann et al. 1999, p.22
6. "Half Canvas Win to P.A.C.". The Mail (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 28 May 1938. p. 24. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
7. "Popeye, Armed, Starts Attack on Torrens". The News (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 6 May 1942. p. 3. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
8. "Happy Ride For Children". The News (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 6 March 1947. p. 3. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
9. "Pleasure Boats in New Role". The Mail (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 31 March 1951. p. 10. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
10. Ray was a son of Ern Jolley, who before operating the boathouse was a champion cross-country runner, rower and athlete.
11. "Two Drown In S.A. Boating Tragedies". The Advertiser (Adelaide: National Library of Australia). 6 April 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
12. Previous visits by Elizabeth II were in March 1954 and February 1964 (when John Dowie's fountain "Three Rivers" in Victoria Square was unveiled)