VINTAGE CARAVAN FREE WEEKEND OLD DADSWELL TOWN

[olddadswell]

Its on again. Our last weekend was in 2009 and its been awhile but we have decided to do it all again. It will be on the 22nd and 23rd August 2014. We are approx halfway between Melbourne and Adelaide in the Grampians area, a great location with lots of things to do around the area, or just relax and meet some new friends. Its free to anyone to bring along there vintage van and join us for a fun weekend. We will have toilets and showers available and limited power. For anyone without a van and wanting to come along we do have some cabins available at a discount price. Would be a great help with numbers if people could let us know before hand if they are coming. Contact details are email [e-mail] or phone [phone]. web. www.olddadswelltown.com.au . Regards from Jenny and Max Green.

[olddadswell]

Just an update on our weekend. We are really excited to have 15 confirmed vans and 3 cabins booked so far. To welcome everyone on the Friday night we will be providing a sausage sizzle tea, and get together around the open fire in our Town hall..
Saturday night we are in the process of organizing some musical entertainment and we would welcome anyone else to join in with this as well. Looking forward to seeing all the lovely vans we have been hearing all about.

[King Fisher]

Looking forward to it, should be a good weekend.

[sportsman 1]

Sorry guys but cannot make it that weekend, have some fun for us!

Leigh.

[olddadswell]

Hopefully if all goes well will be on again next year and we will see you then Leigh.

[King Fisher]

Just interested to know who from here has put their hand up and is planning to go to this weekend getaway at Old Dads Well?

[shesgotthelook]

SGTL's are going

[King Fisher]

Bessie's had a shower, done her hair, put on her make up and deodorant and is sitting in the drive way ready to hitch and go tomorrow morning. She's just a little excited We are really looking forward to this little weekend trip away and best of all catching up with the other vv friends.

[shesgotthelook]

What a great weekend, plenty of familiar faces as well as lots of new ones. Big thankyou to Max & Jenny, I think everyone had a ball.

The Giant Koala at Dadswell Bridge




Terrific old 'Windcutter' owned by Stephen & Janine












Stunning homemade belonging to Alison & Marcus

[shesgotthelook]

For those without internet



Max's project



A few more attendees

[shesgotthelook]

[shesgotthelook]

Max entertaining us on Saturday night













Thankyou to 'Old Dadswell Town'

[King Fisher]

On Friday 22nd August 2014 we headed to Old Dad’s Well Town for a fantastic weekend away near the Grampians.

There were quite a few vans that turned out for the event, along with great weather.























Our lovely Bessie snuggled under the tree.













Old Dads Well was set up like a town, with the cabins representing shops.











At night we all met in the ‘Town Hall’ which was not only homely but had an amazing collection of interesting things.  Something new and different everywhere you looked.



On the second night we had a local lady singing, she wasn't too bad.



There was a lot of unfamiliar faces, many were not members of this VV forum, but still a great time.







And some more familiar faces to the VV forum.





Our friendly host showing off some of the unknown oddities of the Australian wildlife.  But was it all true???





Mad max’s shed was well worth a look with a lot of interesting artifacts from the past







There was plenty of artwork depicting Ozzie humor and interesting things to look at











Everyone had a great time





But too quickly it was time to hitch up and send the wagons home







Thanks heaps Old Dad’s Well and we look forward to coming back, even might rent one of those cool cabins one day.

[frances]

Thank you Max & Jenny, even though I was not up to getting there with the vv Van I got there in person and was chief baker for the Saturday night. Cant get over what a great place to hold an event like this. Relaxed and not able to upset any one else. I am sure this weekend was an insight to what could held at this fantastic venue, car clubs etc. A most enjoyable experience. Baring broken bones we will be there next year.
Frances.

[scot]

A fabulous weekend, great company, inspiring hosts, tranquil setting and pleasant weather. Many thanks Max and Jenny.......Scot

[Don Ricardo]

G'day SGTL and King Fisher,

Thanks for the great photos! Good to see that you all had a good weekend. Plenty to see and enjoy at Old Dadswell Town obviously.

I recognised quite a few forum members and their vans. But there were some I wasn't familiar with. What can you tell us about the following? Are you able to tell us anything about their brand and/or a bit of their history?







The middle one looks like it might have been built by Huntsman - there seems to be a nameplate on the front below the window...

...and the 4WD bus on steroids! That's got to have an interesting story!

Don Ricardo

[shesgotthelook]

Don Ricardo, the middle one is a Phoenix. I did take a photo of the plate but can't read the serial number now!
The bus on steroids rolled up playing 'Come Jump In My Car' blasting from external speakers. I didn't get to talk to them but plenty of others did.
I know one attendee was on his way to a rod run? somewhere else, stopped to talk to someone about their van at a servo who said they were going to Old Dadswell Town. So he decided to come along too & ended up staying the whole weekend!
It really was an eclectic mix of vans & people.

[Mike & Lyn]

The bus started life as a 1953 Bedford bus, but has been transformed back in about 1985 by Russell & Rose from Stawell into a 4x4 travel all over Aussie vehicle. It has competed in Variety Bashes etc. There is room in the back for their Suzuki Jeep and they even have a pressurised system to keep the dust out whilst travelling the outback

[Mike & Lyn]

The first one is about a 1956 Homebuilt towed by a 1929 Dodge sedan and the Phoenix is believed to be a 1957 model. We had 1 box camper, 1 bus, 6 teardrops (2 vintage), 15 vintage caravans and one classic (1984) caravan.

[griffin]

Hi Don R

I first saw the Bedford bus at Bendigo Swap Meet about 35 years ago, it still looks in good shape, glad to see it is still going strong.

George

[King Fisher]

That bus sure is a beauty. We had the opportunity to chat to Russell & Rose about it, very loverly people. They did the current interior fitout in the early 80s and traveled all around Australia in it. There is plans for a more current interior refit and another trip around the block. When they did their but trip in the 80s, in ? Port Douglas ? they parked it up and used the suzuki to get right up the top of the cape. Pretty amazing engineering the rear contains a bedroom with big bed and a set of bunks for their 'children' at the time. All these fold out of the way to make room for the car to be driven up the ramp and parked inside the bus. Got a couple more pickies here one of Russell the owner and the other from the side outside.

[olddadswell]

Just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who came along and made our weekend so successful. We had a great time meeting lots of new friends and seing all the lovely vans. Thank you to everyone who has posted photos and comments here,and also on our facebook page and tripadvisor really appreciate it. Roll on next year for a repeat weekend. Hope to see a few new vv friends in geelong in November. Cheers from Jenny and Mad Max. Old Dadswell Town.