Post by Franklin1 on Nov 11, 2007 17:39:35 GMT 10
The following information is extracted from the Sydney Powerhouse Museum website:
"[the Propert] was designed to fill a niche in the very popular caravan culture of post-WWII Australia. The newly released Holdens and the powerful American cars were able to cope with the weight of the large caravans but these cars were beyond the financial reach of many during that era. Many families were only able to afford and operate the relatively low-powered English and European sedans and the folding caravans and vanettes were a means by which these owners could take part in the trend for cheap, self contained holiday travel. However, many of the folding caravans of the period were little more than tents on trailers. The Propert folding caravan, however, offered large van security in a compact form. Furthermore, the 1950s was a time of increased car ownership in Australia and the end of petrol rationing. For the first time Australians had access to a motor vehicle and the disposable income and leisure time to enjoy it. Although caravans had existed in Australia from the 1920s it was not until the 1960s that family caravanning holidays became very popular.
History notes
Between the wars rail travel and hotel accommodation were too expensive for the average Australian family. Motoring made holidays possible for a much larger percentage of the population. The 'motor gypsies', as they were called, cooked on the roadside and camped in tents. The first camping ground for travelling motorists was established at Woodend in Victoria in 1924. Permanent sleeping cabins soon began to appear in the camping grounds, to be followed by motels ("motor hotels"), caravan parks and roadside eateries. Homemade caravans, which first appeared in the 1920s, made it possible to have touring holidays that were cheaper than staying at motels and more comfortable than in tents. With the upgrading of roads, local councils built caravan parks at beach resorts and tourist towns.
The caravan industry really took off after the Don firm in Victoria began making caravans as a backyard business in 1934. By the early 1950s many other caravan companies emerged including Viscount and Millard in New South Wales, Coronet and Franklin in Victoria, Chesney in Queensland, and Tru-Line in Western Australia. Competition was keen and the original ply-wood vans soon disappeared as sleek aluminium-clad models took over. Interiors became more sophisticated, with ice boxes and two-burner Shellite or kerosene stoves giving way to gas and electric refrigerators and ovens. Electric lighting quickly became standard and the caravans got larger. Local commercial production peaked in the mid 1970s. Compact caravans developed from the late 1970s with companies such as Windsor introducing the 'pop-top' to capitalise on interior space. Caravanning went through a decline for some years after that but in recent times has gained in popularity, with large numbers of 'grey nomads' (retired baby boomers) now leisurely touring the country."
"[the Propert] was designed to fill a niche in the very popular caravan culture of post-WWII Australia. The newly released Holdens and the powerful American cars were able to cope with the weight of the large caravans but these cars were beyond the financial reach of many during that era. Many families were only able to afford and operate the relatively low-powered English and European sedans and the folding caravans and vanettes were a means by which these owners could take part in the trend for cheap, self contained holiday travel. However, many of the folding caravans of the period were little more than tents on trailers. The Propert folding caravan, however, offered large van security in a compact form. Furthermore, the 1950s was a time of increased car ownership in Australia and the end of petrol rationing. For the first time Australians had access to a motor vehicle and the disposable income and leisure time to enjoy it. Although caravans had existed in Australia from the 1920s it was not until the 1960s that family caravanning holidays became very popular.
History notes
Between the wars rail travel and hotel accommodation were too expensive for the average Australian family. Motoring made holidays possible for a much larger percentage of the population. The 'motor gypsies', as they were called, cooked on the roadside and camped in tents. The first camping ground for travelling motorists was established at Woodend in Victoria in 1924. Permanent sleeping cabins soon began to appear in the camping grounds, to be followed by motels ("motor hotels"), caravan parks and roadside eateries. Homemade caravans, which first appeared in the 1920s, made it possible to have touring holidays that were cheaper than staying at motels and more comfortable than in tents. With the upgrading of roads, local councils built caravan parks at beach resorts and tourist towns.
The caravan industry really took off after the Don firm in Victoria began making caravans as a backyard business in 1934. By the early 1950s many other caravan companies emerged including Viscount and Millard in New South Wales, Coronet and Franklin in Victoria, Chesney in Queensland, and Tru-Line in Western Australia. Competition was keen and the original ply-wood vans soon disappeared as sleek aluminium-clad models took over. Interiors became more sophisticated, with ice boxes and two-burner Shellite or kerosene stoves giving way to gas and electric refrigerators and ovens. Electric lighting quickly became standard and the caravans got larger. Local commercial production peaked in the mid 1970s. Compact caravans developed from the late 1970s with companies such as Windsor introducing the 'pop-top' to capitalise on interior space. Caravanning went through a decline for some years after that but in recent times has gained in popularity, with large numbers of 'grey nomads' (retired baby boomers) now leisurely touring the country."