Name/TitlePhotograph, "Matador"

About this object“Matador”
A 60-foot steel boat designed by Ted McLeay and built from a timber model, made to Ted’s specifications by master boat builder Reg Hyde. Reg then completed all the woodwork in the wheelhouse and fo’c’sle. Rex Foster, a retired blacksmith, and Max Kellet also assisted with the building. She was launched at Little Beach in 1966.

‘’Matador’’ was fitted with a 671 GM diesel main drive, a 371 GM diesel to drive the winch gear and later a 371 GM to drive the onboard refrigeration and power plant. She was so powerful she was often called upon to rescue other boats in distress. The local police having no ocean going vessels at that time.
After 2 years working in the local area, Ted took ‘’Matador’’ to Queensland for the winter prawn and scallop season. Whilst in Queensland Ted was asked to supply prawns to South Seas Fishing Company in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Ted readily accepted and replaced the current motor with a V12 diesel which was capable of 500 hp. One season Ted caught 20 tons of prawns in 1 day which were taken to Thursday Island prawn factory for processing.

The ‘’Matador’’ returned to Port Stephens for another 3 years before she was sold to a man from Cairns who unfortunately wrecked her on the Halfway Reef, Torres Strait.

Place MadeOceania, Australia, New South Wales, Stockton

MakerReg Hyde, Stockton Shipyard

Maker RoleBoat Builder

Date Made1966

PeriodMid 20th century

Formatjpeg

Object TypeFishing Vessel

Subject and Association KeywordsBoat building

Subject and Association KeywordsBoats

Subject and Association KeywordsFishing - commercial

Subject and Association KeywordsPrawning

Subject and Association KeywordsLobstering

Subject and Association KeywordsDiesel Engine

Subject and Association KeywordsSteel

Object numberTMA2021.00169.3

Copyright Licence