Sunday History Photo, SA
Submitted: Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 06:31
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Member - Doug T (NT)
Many of us older Crow Eaters would remember the old green and white Popeye which operated from the late 1940s, I can and it was a real treat to get a ride on Popeye before shopping in Rundle St and of course this time of year to visit Father Xmas in
John Martins Magic
Cave . In1982 the Popeye’s were replaced with more modern craft.The Popeye has two embarkation points..one below the zoo and the other in Elder Park.
Image Could Not Be Found
While not exactly a ship of State, over the years it's played host to Royalty and Prime Ministers. For generations the Popeye has ferried locals and visitors alike along what is one of
Adelaide's scenic delights,cruising the waters of the Torrens Lake and it's a tradition which goes back as far as 1935.
Popeye was built down there on the Torrens and slipped into the water..a chappy called Harold Lounder built it." The first Popeye was built for the original operator
Gordon Watts who plied these waters for nearly thirty years before handing over to a new owner in 1962.
Reply By: Member - lyndon K (SA) - Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 06:45
Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 06:45
G'day Doug
Whilst i'm still in my 30's JUST, i remember
well the days spent at the torrens in the mid 70's and Popeye.
Thanks for the reminder!
Cheers Lyndon
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Follow Up By: ctaplin - Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 22:35
Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 22:35
Young Lyndon, are you sure that you didn't still have nappies on when the original Popeye was still operating???
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Reply By: Member - Kingsley N (SA) - Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 09:32
Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 09:32
Good on ya Doug,
I certainly have fond memories of the old Popeye boats. They were, as you said, painted in a classic green and cream reminiscent of the old SAR railway carriages. The motor made a beaut low chug-a-lug noise. We used to catch the steam train or electric trolley bus from down Woodville way, along the Port Road (which was originally intended to be a canal) into the city then across Elder park to catch the Popeye to the Zoo.
In those days there were rowboats for hire. Now they have those silly pedal things.
The current fleet is OK and gives a lot of pleasure to visitors and locals alike. I reckon the motor is too loud and not in keeping with the slow speed. Probably a six cylinder vehicle conversion.
Old Popeye is up there with the old
Granite Island Horse Tram for a classic memory. Of course the Horse Tram has been reinstated. I have some piccies somewhere. Gotta rush now. I'll look around later.
Kingo
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Reply By: Member - Peter D M - Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 09:33
Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 09:33
i remember these from almost 5o years ago and remember a trip to the zoo for my sisters birthday with a ride on popeye thrown in.
but when we arrived at elder park the weir had been opened for cleanout and a paper boat would no have had clearance in the trickle that is the mighty torrens at the time.
thanks for the memories and we might have been on a lewis brothers bus to get to the city.
regards peter
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Reply By: Louie the fly (SA) - Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 11:48
Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 11:48
I remember the Popeye boats as
well. Grandma used to take us on there when we went to the zoo. The we would walk back to Rundle Street because my mum's cousin worked in Balfours' Cafeteria. Mmm, pie & chips.
Any idea what engines the Popey's had in them? I can remember the sound of the exhaust - Vanguard maybe?
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Reply By: Mobi Condo - Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 12:26
Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 12:26
As a primary and then
young secondary student, I spent many hours watching PopEye go back &
forth with school mates as we fished for BIG Redfin in the Torrens Lake in our holidays. Just a few
miles (then) from
home near Magill/Tranmere on the treadlies and all afternoon with worms or red flashing lures was the high light of our days! Then you could actually see the bottom of the river under the water too!
Cheers - Mobi
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Reply By: Pradobob - Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 14:22
Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 14:22
Dodge Q 6 cyl sv engines in think. Popular in the 50's/60's - easy to marinise.
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Follow Up By: Louie the fly (SA) - Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 16:21
Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 16:21
That sounds logical. as you say, very popular in their day. And reliable...
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Follow Up By: Angler - Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 22:47
Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 22:47
Image Could Not Be Found
First try at photo upload.
This engine is in my brothers new 16ft boat.
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Reply By: That Troopy Bloke (SA) - Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 19:14
Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 19:14
Thanks guys, you have bought back lots of memories for me.
Perhaps my youth wasn't all misspent:-)
Sadly the old Torrens is a shadow of it's former self these days... not a pretty sight. The Popeye is just 'going through the motions'.
Memories of swimming across the river, to be met by the coppers on the other side waiting to kick your backside...."what would you do if you were hit by the Popeye, son?"
Taking a likely sort for a romantic paddle up the river...."gee this paddling is hard work, perhaps we better pull in under that tree for a ...errr...rest"
Balfour's Cafeteria.....frog cakes....yum:-)
My sister has lived in Qld for 20 years, but she still hunts down the frog cakes every time she's back in town....but they're not what they were either.
Lewis Bros buses....weren't they shockers. I think they used to buy the old MTT buses once the MTT had worn them out.
Cheers
Glenn
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Follow Up By: Louie the fly (SA) - Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 20:26
Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 20:26
Glenn, I went past the Torrens on Friday (on way to
Adelaide Oval) for the first time in ages. There was plenty of water in the lake, and it seemed to be fairly clean. When we were kids we swam at the weir and downstream to
the brewery. I can remember getting covered in leeches in the downstream part. Ahh, the good old days. We used to ride our bikes into town along the river (from Rowley Park area) but I wouldn't be game enough to do it now. Know what I mean???
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Follow Up By: Member - Crazy Dog (QLD) - Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 21:47
Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 21:47
Rowley park eh!!
Speedway near the old gasometer's - stunk like hell but oh the Friday night racing... Kym Bonython, Gerry Hussie , Clem Smith - who remembers them?
Grrr!!!
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Follow Up By: That Troopy Bloke (SA) - Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 22:10
Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 22:10
They were before my time, but I do remember Billy Wigzell, Phil Hereen, and 'Two Gun Tats'.
What a perfect place for a speedway....such a pity they closed it down.
Being sunk down in a pit (an
old quarry, I think), everyone got a great view. Electric atmosphere every friday night.
@ Louie the Fly....I reckon you were game riding a treadly down there, even back then. I copped a fair old flogging from the ethnic gangs down there one night. Not something I would want to repeat.
Cheers
Glenn
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Follow Up By: Member - Dennis P (Scotland) - Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 23:16
Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 23:16
Last I remember about Billy, was of him racing some powerful Sprintcar, can't remember the name of it.
Phill was in a bad prang a few years back in his Speedcar, ended up wheelchair bound.
Found this to bring back memories,
Rowley Park
Cheers,
Dennis
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Follow Up By: Member - Malcolm C (QLD) - Monday, Dec 01, 2008 at 01:20
Monday, Dec 01, 2008 at 01:20
>
Argh! Louie the fly .... must have been one of the Brompton kids!
Now *we* were real class. Lived next door to Wilcox Mofflin and the
Cemetery in Hindmarsh. (Bacon St)
Just last week my twin brother and I were laughing about the tyre tubes we used to ride down the torrens when they opened the flood gates on the weir. Would we do it now ? Not bloody likely.
Malcolm
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Follow Up By: Louie the fly (SA) - Monday, Dec 01, 2008 at 19:18
Monday, Dec 01, 2008 at 19:18
Yes
Malcolm, I was one of the Brompton kids. Grew up in the area and went to Brompton Primary School. Talk about class, we lived in Renown Park. Had the same teacher in grade 4 that my mum had in grade 7. After her and 9 brothers and sisters went through there, then my brother, you reckon I copped a hiding... Ahh, good times. My gramdpa still lives at the back of where PGH was.
There's a book called Half Days and Patched Pants. It depicts life in the area around the 30's. Nothing changed until the mid 70's.
Glenn, I was one of those ethnic kids - when it suited me, coming from a mixed background of European and Australian. The best of both worlds.
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