Carapark caravans (Mayfield & Leichardt, NSW & other loc'ns)

[Franklin1]

CARAPARK HISTORY: (this history information is based on what we've accumulated so far. The history is a summary of bits of information that can be found throughout this thread. As new information becomes available, this history will be modified.)

• Commenced in 1947 as the business "Caravan Park", 107 Maitland Road, Mayfield, Newcastle, NSW.
  
• Thought to have been originally known as Caravan Park Limited, although a photo of the Newcastle factory shows only the name Carapark.
  
• First caravan models include the "Hunter", 15ft long x 6ft 8ins wide, made of "proofwood" (weather-resisting plywood). [see article bottom of page 2 of this thread]
  
• By December 1950, the Head Office address was given as 625 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt, Sydney
  
• By March 1951, the Sales and Hire Department address was given as 70 Parramatta Road, Summer Hill, NSW [western suburbs of Sydney]
  
• By November 1952, an advertisement in the Australian Monthly Motor Manual magazine listed the company as Caravan Park Limited, R.J.Rankin - Managing Director. Head Office and Spare Parts Division, 681 Parramatta Rd., Leichhardt, NSW. Spare Parts Divisions also at 111 Maitland Rd., Mayfield, Newcastle, and 252 Abbotsford Rd., Mayne, Brisbane. This 1952 advertisement is for Carapark spares and accessories, chassis and prefabricated frames. [see November 1952 advertisement on Page 3 of this thread]
  
• By December 1957, advertisements for Carapark caravans gave an address for Carapark Productions Ltd, 681 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt, Sydney. This appears to have been the location for the Head Office and the major distributor location. Addresses were also given for other States.
  
• By April 1962, the Carapark companies had been taken over by Motels of Australia, however sections of the caravan side of the business were bought by new companies headed by former Carapark executives. The chief Sydney centre would be at the Summer Hill address instead of Leichhardt. Other centres would continue, including the factory at 111 Maitland Rd, Newcastle.
  
• 
  

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posted by johnfenn, Apr 30, 2005: Carapark had a source of rounded corner pressed or spun aluminium corner pieces. My dad was never able to find out where they got them, but it was thought they got them from an aircraft manufacturer. In any event Carapark caravans are fairly distinctive by the square box look with the rounded 3D corners. At least from about the 60s onward.

reply by hughdeani: The word was the rounded corners on the old Caraparks were made from chinese cooking woks bought in bulk!

reply by caraparker: In 1967 [it appears to have been 1962], Carapark was taken over by Motels of Australia. Carapark had several very good motel sites and I reckon that is why they were taken over. The rights to make "caraparks" or similar designs were sold to the various state distributors.

[Franklin1]

Year: Unknown
Model: Unknown
Dimensions: Unknown
Weight: Unknown

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1947 "Superb" model built by Caravan Park Ltd (later to be known as Carapark Ltd):



(source: posted by Roehm3108, Aug 16, 2005, who wrote: So, when is a caravan park not a caravan park? When it is actually a caravan built by Caravan Park Ltd (later known as Carapark).
The van is number 14 of series 650 of the "Superb" model range. It is 13ft 6inches long, 6ft 4inches wide, and weighs 16.5 cwt (about 750-800kg) It is built of all steel construction, except the window frames, which are wood. Everything works on it. It even has over-ride brakes and tows like a dream.
...I could not believe it - even the inside was original (except for the missing icebox and the horrible bar fridge in its place).

[Franklin1]

(source: ??)


Year: Unknown
Model: Unknown
Dimensions: 23 feet length,
Weight: Unknown

[Franklin1]

Year: Unknown
Model: Unknown
Dimensions: 18 feet length,
Weight: Unknown

[Franklin1]

December 1957 advertisements for the upcoming 1958 Carapark range:

[Franklin1]

1958 advertisement:

[Franklin1]

1960 Carapark Zestline article:



1962 Carapark article from Motor Manual magazine:



(source: posted by gristy June 25, 2007)

[Franklin1]

Circa 1962 Carapark Hunter caravan:





Information: In Oct 2004, caraparker wrote: The only info I have on the Carapark is that it was registered as a 1962 model in Tasmania , something I doubt, because of the old style wooden flyscreen door, which although restored, has not been reinstalled as it takes up a fair bit of room.
...as for the weight , I can only estimate that at the moment, I found a list of carapark weights from 1966 which put the 14'6" model at 14.6 cwt, a figure that the registration authorities were willing to agree with.

[Franklin1]

Undated Zestline caravan:



(source: posted by Jim, Dec 3, 2006. This van was part of a "Big hArt" display in Federation Square, Melbourne, Oct 2006.)

[Franklin1]

Carapark caravan:



(source: posted by kaybee, Dec 30, 2006, who wrote: Here's a couple of old vans a few suburbs away from us, the first is a small Carapark that we frequently pass by on local trips, today the door was open so we figured it was time to stop n' say "Hello".
The elderly couple who own this van are undecided whether or not to sell, it belonged to the lady's late father and hasn't been used for some time, but is still registered.)

[melanco]

Hi Frankilin 1
The loverly Carapark Zest in post No 10 is owned by me and she has recently been dated (unconfirmed) as 1958. This was from the back of the old fridge that was recently retired. I have much better pics of her now and she has had loads of work done. Let me know if you want to update them.

Mel from Melbourne (and Production Manager of Big hART shows)

[kingy]

Here we have another zestline by carapark (year unknown)
It runs on early holden wheels, has an ice chest, and needs a near full interior fittout

[Franklin1]

1962 Carapark Zestliner 38ft:

On Jul 31, 2007, Don Ricardo wrote: G'day everyone, I was so entranced by the photo of the Don and FX combo in the July edition of Caravan World that I missed another VV item in the same magazine until a day ago. It's a picture of a 1962 38 ft Carapark which is/was currently touring WA and was sighted at a caravan park in Denham, WA. Note that it has a separate bedroom for the chauffeur. Reminiscent of some of those upmarket British vans...




(source: Taken from Caravan World magazine, July 2007, p. 77-78.)

[sportsman 1]

RE CARAPARK HISTORY.

This first letter was published in the December 2002 issue of Caravan & Motorhome. The Zestline was owned at the time by Parravans in Sydney, who intended to restore it. Anyone Know of this van and where it is now?



The following 4 pages were published in the June 2003 issue of Caravan & Motorhome magazine and shows some terrific period photos. These were provided by an ex employee by the name of Col Chipchase. Does anyone know Col? I assume he was living in N.S.W. He may be a valuable contact re Carapark history.






leigh.

[Franklin1]

Carapark Ten Nine caravan:



(source: posted by earlee, Nov 20, 2007, who wrote: here is another addition to the Brisbane HQ. Apparently another VC'er had a look at it but declined to buy - I just couldnt resist a PORTHOLE van.
The owners purchased it secondhand some 35 odd years ago, with many a good time with their family holidays since. It has been located very close to salt water which has rusted out a lot of the steel framework and chassis - Is it fixable ? , I am not sure yet?
At least the FJ wheels and tyres hold air. )

[Franklin1]

Carapark photograph taken in 1955:



(source: posted by Mark T, Apr 19, 2005, who wrote: Some photos from Ken Bayley in NSW:

"Saw your site in the On The Road magazine and thought you might like to get some old photos from my family collection. My late brother, Lionel Bayley had several holidays using rented vans.

Kind regards,

Ken Bayley
Oatley. NSW. ")

[Franklin1]

Approx 1957 Carapark Cardman 14 footer caravan: Notice this van is quite different from the box-shaped aluminium Caraparks we are used to seeing. If you look closely at some of the photos in the articles sportsman1 has posted above, there are a couple of vans that are rounded in shape.



(source: posted by trev and carrots, Sept 7, 2004, on behalf of Gary, who wrote: The Carapark van as mentioned before has been under cover when not on holidays, it should be an easy resto except for the external roof, it is covered in some sort of fabric & has started to crack up.
...the interior of the van is original, but the inlay lino has started to lift & crack unfortunately.

on April 27, 2005, carapark (Gary) posted: ...Hi John, Thats a pretty flash looking van you have there, It's not unlike my Carapark Cardman but mine is a 1957 vintage. Have fun.
Cheers, Gary)

[Don Ricardo]

Advertisement dated July 1954 for a bondwood Carapark caravan:



(source: posted by Cobber, Nov 20,2007)

[aussieambo]

Hi All,
As mentioned in my general thread regarding an old ad I saw at Melba's Chocolate Factory. It is only one ad but I took varying photos to try and get as much info as I could. It was behind glass so please excuse the flash flare.
ENJOY
Regards
Graem

[firefighter]

thought this ad might be of interest to the carapark members



f/f ;D ;D ;D ;D

[firefighter]

caravan park hunter ad from 1947



f/f ;D ;D ;D ;D

[phargan]

Hello Franklin1 and many thanks for putting this history together for the devotees, which I have just found.
My van is the little Hunter 'Minor' and strange to say that I found it very close to the original Head Office in Leichhart Sydney, almost the next suburb, Five Dock. So it would seem that it had not done very much travelling during its life, or if it had, it came back home to roost. It has been altered by a previous owner to give a small double bed across the rear and the table was moved to the door side wall on a sliding rail but other than that it is original. I have owned it now for 12 years and it has been to Perth, and most of the New South Wales Coast. The add states that they were 150 pounds deposit and I wonder what the total cost was in those days? I paid $500 for it and another couple of thousand to retore it and now I love it to death.
My story is on the 'Members Photo Album' page with pictures. You may have seen it?
Thank you again for the work you must have put into your article and I shall print it out to read later and keep it in the van as a history.
Regards and Thanks,
phargan

[Franklin1]

1953 Carapark bondwood caravan advertisement:

This advert is similar to the one posted by Don Ricardo above, however additional information in small print below the drawing says:

Illustrated:"Hunter de luxe" 4 berth for 18 h.p. cars
Also available: "Hunter Junior" 2-3 berth for 10-12 h.p. cars [/color]

[

(source: Australian Monthly Motor Manual, August 1953, page 316)

[Geoff & Jude]

hi franklin 1

i'm surprised you hadn't noticed that this is the same as the van you posted in the accessories thread, reply #7

vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.c.cgi?action=display&board=chat&thread=1194768822&page=1

even down to the exhaust fan chimney.

geoff 'n jude

[tinnie]

I guess you didn't notice the rifle leaning up against the front of the van either Al.
perhaps 'mum' was a pretty mean shot, you better be careful ;D


That is something you certainly would not see these days in a car or caravan magazine, reflection of the times!

Gristy ;D