Gus Cole's Oyster Punt:
Part of the Merimbula Old School Museum's collection, Gus Cole's oyster punt was constructed in about 1918 and is now the oldest locally built wooden oyster punt known to exist. The flat bottomed timber punt (or “flatty”) is typical of boats built & used in the local industry from before WWI right through until about the 1980s.
From the earliest days of the industry locally, farmers usually constructed their own vessels using locally available timbers such as spotted gum. The punts measured between 10 - 20 foot (5 - 5.6 metres) in length, a similar size to those used today. "Tracks” left between fences of oyster sticks enabled farmers to access & inspect their produce, but with no outboard motors, they relied on the tides & either poled or rowed around & between leases.
Even after the advent of aluminium punts, some local oyster farmers, notably Pitt Warne & the Wheeler family, continued to use timber vessels right through until the 1970s & '80s. However, according to Pitt’s son Peter, because leakage was such a problem, the punt bottoms had to be tarred to help keep them water tight & extend their life span.
​
​
Comprised of timbers such as Box, Stringy Bark, Sheoak & Oregon, the punt was built by Gus Cole, a local oyster farmer who also turned out fishing dinghies and punts as a side line. The example in the Merimbula Old School Museum is the only one of his boats known to exist today.
Employed in the local industry from the time it was built, the punt was also used by other farmers including Artie Goodsell, Gus Jackson & Reg Warn. In 1981 when Chris Boyton purchased Reg Warn’s Top Lake oyster leases, the punt was included. Although laying abandoned in the mangroves & not in usable condition, Mr. Boynton recognised the historical value of the boat & donated it to the Merimbula-Imlay Historical Society. It has been an important part of the Old School Museum's collection ever since.
​
