1950s Caravans

[Franklin1]

Caravan photo taken 1954:



(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]

1952 caravan:



This van was listed on ebay, April 2008. Description: 1952 ORIGINAL BONDWOOD CARAVAN. This caravan has been kept in a garage under covers for 30 years. Everything on this van is original including dust. At front of van is a table that seats 4 people and makes up into a small double bed. At the rear there is another table that seats 6 and also makes up into an large double bed. Built in wardrobe with plenty of cupboard space. Electric fridge. Electric and battery operated lights. Even the lino on the floor is original. Caravan also comes complete with original, perfect condition, annexe with wooden poles and ropes. Has never been out of rego. Still has original number plates [Vic H13-696] and is registered till April 2009.

[frances]

I am looking to find a 1950's caravan by the name of JAYFAIR can anyone help, Tanks Frances

[cobber]

Here we have a couple of photos of members of 'The Sorlie's Travelling Vaudeville Show' during a bit of R & R at Broken Hill around 1957.

TV had all but sounded the end of their shows in the big cities, but had not yet reached places like Broken Hill, however the emergence of the club scene finally ended the travelling shows in the early 1960s

George Sorlie's biography can be seen Here

Sorry.... Can't see much of this caravan, makes it hard to identify.



This one is better.... anybody know what it is?



Cobber.

[Jikah]

Hi Cobber,

This caravan looks like a to be the same as the Carapark on show at McWheeter's Motor Museum at Forbes, NSW.

Cheers, Ian.

[cobber]

G'day Ian,

I think you could be close to the mark in saying it is a 'Carapark' but I see differences between this one and the one in McFeeters at Forbes.
Winterwood has given us a photo of the one at Forbes see it here and the windows are different (timber frames as against aluminium) and the Forbes one appears to have more of a curve towards the lower part at the rear.

It's a shame the small plate above the tail light isn't more in focus, it would tell us something aye?

Cobber.

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Cobber and Jikah,

No, definitely not a Carapark Hunter Minor, which is the van at McFeeter's. It's too large for that, apart from anything else. That's not to say it isn't a Carapark, though. Carapark produced a number of larger caravans in the 40's which we have names for, but no idea what they looked like.

How frustrating is it to see that manufacturer's name plate on the van, but not to be able to read it or recognise it?

Don Ricardo

[Don Ricardo]

Hi all,

Here is an interesting photo posted on the Lost Sydney Facebook page here:



The caption reads:

"Accommodation provided"

Tradesmen working on the construction of the Sydney Opera House live in caravans on-site at Bennelong Point.

The photo is from a series of photographs relating to the building of the Opera House on the vintage.es website, which dates the photo as having been taken on 20 June 1960. However, the caravan appears as if it was built a fair bit earlier than 1960, and in fact looks not unlike the style of a Brindle caravan from the late 30's. All the same, the aluminium framed windows may indicate a 50's build date, which is why I've posted it on this thread.

It's a very evocative photo though, whatever the era of the caravan.

Don Ricardo