history
Pelican Boat Hire has been serving customers from 180 Gympie Terrace Noosaville for more than 50 years. Established in 1957 Noosa Marine Services provided slipway and small boat repairs as well as hiring out ‘tinnies’ as Pelican Hire Boats.
The photo gallery shows some of the early days with the unpaved road and foreshore, and in the background Blue Lodge, holiday homes, a large hardware store and timber mill. View our gallery
The foreshore was upgraded in the late 1990’s to it current form with sheltered huts, public electric BBQ’s and shared cycling and walking paths. This upgrade is world class and provides both visitors and locals with great foreshore facilities to enjoy the Noosa River. Swimming fishing and boating are the main recreational activities.
Every now and then the river may flood. Generally not more than once in 20 years but the effects can be seen in the photos. The last flood although not very high at its peak was in 2007.
Pelican Boat Hire has upgraded its fleet of boats from once small tinnies and ‘Put-Put’ boats to now have the largest range of boats on the river. Our boats range from 4.m 6 seater fishing boats through to 6m luxury cruising cabin craft with a 21 seater BBQ pontoon being the largest on the river.
Pelican Boat Hire also serves commercial boats from large offshore fishing charter boats, commercial crab boats, coast guard and the Noosa Ferry. Pelican Boat Hire is the only diesel outlet on the Noosa River and provides unleaded and diesel refueling services to the public.
2008 was the year of the first big renovation. The building was stripped to a bare shell. The solid frame was retained but new walls and roof constructed.
2016 was the beginning of the biggest renovation. The shop was opened up as a modern retail outlet with kiosk and information centre. The jetty was restored, new fuel systems and bowser installed to make it the only Code compliant fuel station on the Noosa River.
Pelican Boat Hire is now ready for the next 50 years with the biggest and best jetty and pontoons on the Noosa River.
PELICAN BOAT HIRE AWARDS
We are thrilled to announce that we are the Gold Winner of the 2021 Queensland Tourism Awards, and Bronze Winner of the 2021 Australia Tourism Awards for Tourism Retail and Hire Services.
The Awards are a submission and inspection-based program and provide the opportunity to publicly acknowledge and showcase Queensland’s finest tourism operators. The Awards cover 30 categories ranging from attractions, events, tour and transport, accommodation, restaurants, culture, marketing and more.
The Queensland Tourism Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of the state’s tourism industry, including individuals, businesses (industry operators) and events.
The Qantas Australian Tourism Awards (QATA’s) are the peak awards for the Australian tourism industry. They represent excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry and are the pinnacle of peer recognition.
We are incredibly proud to have won these awards and are extremely lucky to operate in such a strong and supportive community.
