Post by Don Ricardo on Dec 4, 2019 22:23:02 GMT 10
VACATION CARAVANS (South Australia)
Manufactured and/or distributed by E W Wortley Motors,
MacDonnell Street, Naracoorte SA
On 18 November 2019, Grumpster01 posted on the DHL thread about the Vacation caravans built in Ballarat here:
Hello everyone,
I have been doing some digging through "trove' the online newspaper archives and have found numerous adverts for Vacation Caravans in the Narracoorte Herald and Mt Gambier Border Watch from 1946 but nothing else, there is a distinct lack of advertising after 1946, here is a small portion of the adverts which seem to have been quite frequent..
...
Reading the description of the Naracoorte Vacation in the item published on 27 may 1946, it sounds as if the layout and fittings of the van were fairly standard for the mid-40's, apart from the two kerosene stoves. Wonder what the thinking was behind that? Maybe they were both single burner?
The implications of Grumpster01 placing his post on the Ballarat Vacation thread is that he thought there may be a connection between the Vacation caravans built in Naracoorte and those built in Ballarat, but - unless we discover evidence to the contrary - my thoughts are that it seems more likely that this is another example of the same brandname being used independently by different manufacturers in different states. This assessment is based on the following points:
(Source: National Library of Australia nla.gov.au/nla.news-article147014154 )
The second is a similar report on the Naracoorte show printed in the Naracoorte Herald on Thursday,7 November 1946 (page 5):
(Source: National Library of Australia nla.gov.au/nla.news-article147014294 )
Don Ricardo
Manufactured and/or distributed by E W Wortley Motors,
MacDonnell Street, Naracoorte SA
On 18 November 2019, Grumpster01 posted on the DHL thread about the Vacation caravans built in Ballarat here:
Hello everyone,
I have been doing some digging through "trove' the online newspaper archives and have found numerous adverts for Vacation Caravans in the Narracoorte Herald and Mt Gambier Border Watch from 1946 but nothing else, there is a distinct lack of advertising after 1946, here is a small portion of the adverts which seem to have been quite frequent..
...
Reading the description of the Naracoorte Vacation in the item published on 27 may 1946, it sounds as if the layout and fittings of the van were fairly standard for the mid-40's, apart from the two kerosene stoves. Wonder what the thinking was behind that? Maybe they were both single burner?
The implications of Grumpster01 placing his post on the Ballarat Vacation thread is that he thought there may be a connection between the Vacation caravans built in Naracoorte and those built in Ballarat, but - unless we discover evidence to the contrary - my thoughts are that it seems more likely that this is another example of the same brandname being used independently by different manufacturers in different states. This assessment is based on the following points:
- The Naracoorte caravans were advertised (and produced?) for only a relatively short period from May to November 1946, whereas the Ballarat caravans were produced more than a decade later, from around 1958 to 1968.
- The Naracoorte caravans were advertised, and displayed at agricultural shows, by Wortley Motors in a relatively small area of rural south east South Australia (Naracoorte, Mt Gambier, Lucindale and Penola), whereas the Ballarat Vacations were sold in Ballarat as well as by several agents in Melbourne.
- Wortley Motors was formed in February 1946 when Wortleys, who were electrical suppliers, took over a garage business in Naracoorte (Bridge Motors). It appears that Wortley Motors spread their wings wide and were involved in a number of areas, including motor servicing and repairs, selling Vauxhall cars and Bedford trucks, Preston Star and Healing bicycles, kerosene refrigerators, radios and other electrical goods, and milking machines and other farming equipment. It would not be a surprise if at that point after World War II they decided to try their hand at building caravans or selling them on consignment for a local builder. Given that the caravans were only advertised for a few months suggest that the venture was not very successful.
- There is no obvious link between Wortley Motors in Naracoorte and Evans Brothers, the funeral directors in Ballarat who produced the Ballarat caravans (although it has to be said there is no obvious link between a funeral director and caravan manufacture either!!)
(Source: National Library of Australia nla.gov.au/nla.news-article147014154 )
The second is a similar report on the Naracoorte show printed in the Naracoorte Herald on Thursday,7 November 1946 (page 5):
(Source: National Library of Australia nla.gov.au/nla.news-article147014294 )
Don Ricardo