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Post by frances on Mar 19, 2012 20:37:57 GMT 10
SHIRALEE CARAVANS
Produced by ? Shenzel & K James
Shiralee Caravans Pty Ltd
Ballarat Airport, Ballarat Vic
I cannot find any mention if a SHIRALEE caravan made in Ballarat. It looks like it cound be late 60's or early 70's. Can anyone throw any light on this one. It is about 15ft and is for sale at present. Thanks. frances
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Post by Don Ricardo on Nov 25, 2013 16:22:47 GMT 10
I cannot find any mention if a SHIRALEE caravan made in Ballarat. It looks like it cound be late 60's or early 70's. Can anyone throw any light on this one. It is about 15ft and is for sale at present. Thanks. frances Hi all, Quite some time ago, Frances asked whether anyone had heard of Shiralee Caravans made in Ballarat. Nobody responded at the time, however today I found a reference to Shiralee caravans in relation to the Gold Museum at Sovereign Hill here. Looks like they may have a document or something at the museum... Does 'Shiralee' ring any bells for anyone? Sounds as if it could even be the name of a caravan dealer or similar...  Don Ricardo |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2013 16:41:10 GMT 10
We have a 1950s Shiralee 12 foot caravan not yet restored.
Shiralee = The Burden.
J
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Post by Don Ricardo on Nov 26, 2013 20:47:31 GMT 10
Hi Jg33, A Shiralee caravan? That's very interesting to hear. Can you tell us a bit about it? What does it look like? And how much do you know about its history? And of the course the ultimate forum question - any photos??  (If you have some photos but aren't sure how to post them, I will be happy to help you, or post them for you.) Don Ricardo |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2013 0:21:07 GMT 10
As soon as we invest in a digital camera Don Ricardo i will stick up a few pics.
J
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Post by Don Ricardo on Nov 27, 2013 11:00:03 GMT 10
Hi Jg33, Digital camera? Well that's fair enough. If you can give me the address of your chimney, I'll see if I can get Father Christmas to drop one in for you for Christmas. ;D ;D ;D In the meantime, maybe you'd like to tell us a little bit about the van and how you came by it? Is it a bondy or aluminium clad? Yes, I know - I'm stretching the friendship a bit, but you've got me intrigued... Don Ricardo |
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Post by toekneeleoknee on Mar 14, 2017 23:26:06 GMT 10
Hello to all!
First time posting...
We have a "Shiralee" van! We are currently in the middle of renovating after buying it privately via an eBay sale from Bendigo. It has no markings on the draw bar (looks to have been replaced at some point) or any other signs of an id number. After looking at the shape of the van and reading the "korong" post about Bendigo I thought it may have been a rebadged Franklin, about 1967, but I'm really not sure.
On the curved section above the front window the "shiralee" sign writing in italic font can be just barely made out. Interestingly it is painted in cream, similar to the colour that was painted on the side panel. But on the side this matching cream paibt has been put on over the top of an original sky blue. So I'm still suspicious that our shiralee was a rebadge (happy to be corrected by those more well informed!)
Before we cleaned up the aluminium it also had a "Ray Foley Bendigo" sticker on the back above the number plate so possible the previous owner bought it from Foley back in the day when he ran the local caravan park and sold vans on the side. It very well may have come to Bendigo from Ballarat.
As soon as this dreaded rain stops (we're in Sydney) I'll get the covers off and put up some photos.
Leonie
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Post by Don Ricardo on Mar 15, 2017 10:25:10 GMT 10
Hi Toekneeleoknee, That's very intriguing to hear about your Shiralee. As you can tell from the posts on the thread above yours, Shiralee caravans have been mentioned on the forum a few times over the years, but we have not seen any photos of one. So it will be wonderful to see some photos of yours...once it stops raining, of course! When we see the pics, hopefully we will be able to help you work out its origins. Your suggestion that the van has been re-badged or badge-engineered by a caravan dealer may be correct. There are a number of instances of that having occurred. Don Ricardo |
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Post by Roehm3108 on Mar 15, 2017 21:30:16 GMT 10
Of course Mr DonR, it could also be that this van was named Shiralee, because it reminded the owner of the movie by the same name.   It first came out in 1957 as a British production, which could be around the time of this van. I looked up the word's meaning and Oxford dictionary says it means "a bundle of personal belongings or blankets carried by a tramp."out on the road with my shiralee"" |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Mar 15, 2017 22:23:06 GMT 10
Hi Roehm,
That could be true, but we have now heard about three different Shiralee caravans, so that would have to mean that three caravan owners had the same idea. That could be true, too...but the clincher is that the Gold Museum at Sovereign Hill in Ballarat has a brochure for Shiralee caravans in their catalogue. So I reckon we're chasing a brand name not a pet name.
Don Ricardo
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Post by Don Ricardo on May 3, 2017 22:40:41 GMT 10
Shiralee Caravans brochure:  (Photos by kind courtesy of the Gold Museum, Sovereign Hill Museums Association) I was thrilled this afternoon to receive an email from the good people at the Gold Museum at Sovereign Hill in Ballarat, accompanied by the above scan of the brochure. Although there has been discussion about Shiralee caravans on the forum since 2012, and several posts from people who apparently own Shiralees, this is the first real information we have been able to obtain about them. The second image - the inside of the brochure - is actually twice the width of the first image, and folds in half to form a four page leaflet. The brochure states "White Acrylic Aluminium Outside", and that indicates that the brochure can be no earlier than 1967 when that finish was introduced by some caravan manufacturers. As can be seen, parts of the contact details on the brochure have been blacked out with a texta, presumably indicating a change of location and/or proprietorship at some point. However, it is possible to decipher most of what has been covered over: SHIRALEE CARAVANS PTY LTD at the Ballarat Airport or Phone 9 2560 After Hours ? Shenzel, 2 401? - K James, 6 3422 The question now is whether Shiralee built their own vans, or were involved in a bit of badge engineering, obtaining their vans from another Ballarat manufacturer such as Coronet or Vacation. Hughdeani may be able to tell us whether the vans have been badge engineered? Don Ricardo
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Post by Deleted on May 4, 2017 10:21:54 GMT 10
Hi Don,
What a good looking van! It has a Franklin door( which could possibly be purchased from Franklin) and Vacation 3 window front,starlike doublr hopper windows ( expensive)and an Alfab stoneguard!
Inside I can see a push up hatch and an interesting layout with a few unusual touches.
Looks like Shiralee (as others) back then procured parts from all over Ballarat to make a very interesting van a cut above the rest.
I don't think it's re badged,and it's definitely not a Franklin!
Very good looking van though,would love to see one in the flesh!
Cheers
hughdeani
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Post by darryn on Feb 28, 2024 20:14:35 GMT 10
Shiralee Caravans brochure:(Photos by kind courtesy of the Gold Museum, Sovereign Hill Museums Association) I was thrilled this afternoon to receive an email from the good people at the Gold Museum at Sovereign Hill in Ballarat, accompanied by the above scan of the brochure. Although there has been discussion about Shiralee caravans on the forum since 2012, and several posts from people who apparently own Shiralees, this is the first real information we have been able to obtain about them. The second image - the inside of the brochure - is actually twice the width of the first image, and folds in half to form a four page leaflet. The brochure states "White Acrylic Aluminium Outside", and that indicates that the brochure can be no earlier than 1967 when that finish was introduced by some caravan manufacturers. As can be seen, parts of the contact details on the brochure have been blacked out with a texta, presumably indicating a change of location and/or proprietorship at some point. However, it is possible to decipher most of what has been covered over: SHIRALEE CARAVANS PTY LTD at the Ballarat Airport or Phone 9 2560 After Hours ? Shenzel, 2 401? - K James, 6 3422 The question now is whether Shiralee built their own vans, or were involved in a bit of badge engineering, obtaining their vans from another Ballarat manufacturer such as Coronet or Vacation. Hughdeani may be able to tell us whether the vans have been badge engineered? Don Ricardo |
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Post by darryn on Feb 28, 2024 20:32:42 GMT 10
G'day all,
I've probably missed the boat on this, probably would have been handy if I had of stumbled across this forum a few years ago but thought if any of you are still active on this site you may be interested in this.
My father is K James and yes he had Shiralee caravans, I don't remember a lot about it as I was very young but would be interested in perhaps seeing one of these vans in the flesh.
Not sure if we have any old photos of his factory etc I would have to go digging through the photo archives.
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Post by Don Ricardo on Feb 29, 2024 22:11:48 GMT 10
Hi Darryn,
Welcome to the Forum and thanks for telling us that your father was 'K James', the proprietor of Shiralee Caravans. It is always wonderful to make contact with the descendants of people who were involved in the caravan industry in the 'vintage era'.
As you can tell from this thread, we don't know a lot about Shiralee vans, but have been gradually putting together little bits of info here and there. Unfortunately none of the Shiralee owners who've posted have shown us any photos of their vans, so the only photos we have at this stage are from the leaflet held by the Gold Museum.
Although you say you were very young when the vans were in production, it would be fascinating to hear a bit more about your father, and how he got into the caravan industry. And obviously if you have any photos that would be fascinating too. As a 'caravan historian' I'd love to have a chat to you if your willing. If you would be happy to do that perhaps you could PM (Personal Message) me via the Forum - see the 'Messages' button on the menu ribbon above. Alternatively you can contact me by email: caravahistory@gmail.com
Don Ricardo
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It first came out in 1957 as a British production, which could be around the time of this van. I looked up the word's meaning and Oxford dictionary says it means "a bundle of personal belongings or blankets carried by a tramp."out on the road with my shiralee""
