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Post by Geoff & Jude on Apr 6, 2008 11:38:08 GMT 10
Starlite caravansManufactured by H W Leadbeatter General Engineering Works, Alstonville, NSW Note that caravans were also produced under the name Starlite in Fitzroy, Victoria by the Starlite Canopy Co. It seems unlikely that there was any links between the two manufacturers.
as a young fellow our family went to ballina each year for the christmas vacation. one of my uncles had a "starlight" caravan, bondwood, about 14', which he towed behind his fj holden. starlight caravans were made in alstoneville (jailbar territory) up to about the late 50's, early 60's (i think) and were named after the (local) bushranger, captain starlight. alan and i did some research recently trying to track down any existing vans that might be for sale, this included talking to the original manufacturer's son who now lives in sydney - but to no avail. starlight vans were only made to order and were quite luxurious at the time and i would dearly love to find one. if anybody out there in v.v. world has any info regarding one (any condition) i'd love to hear from you. geoff ('n jude)
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Post by Jennison on Oct 17, 2010 20:44:51 GMT 10
I was walking down the road at Coledale yesterday when I was approached by an elderly gentleman who asked me if there were any Jennison Pathfinders or Starlight Vans in our group!!....small world full of big coincidences!! Turns out, that in his opinion he felt Pathfinders were the best on the market in their time, and why, when his family started building Starlight caravans, that they modelled them closely on the Jennos! We had a long talk and I have his contact details. Ken was going home to check out vintage caravans.com and to go thru his old photos. He is sure he has an old starlight brochure as well. I will follow up on this and hopefully spread some new light on the starlight brand van. regards jennison
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Post by JBJ on Oct 18, 2010 6:50:31 GMT 10
Hi,
I've heard of the Starlight vans, & know where they were supposedly built, but none of the locals I know ( I've lived & worked in Alstonville since early 1980) know anything more than that. I've asked a few, & a lot know of my passion for old cars & vans, but no one has came forward to date.
It will be good to get some genuine details, because a lot of these "unknown" vans that pop up could well be built in small factory operations, with no records or references kept.
JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Dec 6, 2010 7:45:57 GMT 10
Hi All,
Just had an interesting comment on Starlight vans.
I took Lucille to Kim Daley, the canvas fabricator who is making an annex for me. He was talking to his father on the weekend, a guy I've known for the 30 years I've lived here.
He worked in the Starlight factory for about 3 years on & off as his first job. I've asked Kim to get more info from him, so we might find some photos somewhere, & some names for me to chase up.
JBJ
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Post by Geoff & Jude on Dec 6, 2010 8:00:49 GMT 10
hi jailbar
that's interesting news.
we're still hoping to get onto a starlight one day.
my uncle (grev sergeant) swore by them as the best you could get and i remember he bought a couple of them while we lived in lismore.
geoff 'n jude
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Post by Don Ricardo on Apr 25, 2013 11:32:40 GMT 10
Hi all, It's five years since Geoff and Jude started this thread regarding the Alstonville built Starlite caravans, and three years since anything was added to it. However, at last we've come up with some concrete info about what the vans were like! The following advert was placed in the Lismore Northern Times on Wednesday, 15 February 1950 (p 11): (Source: National Library of Australia nla.gov.au/nla.news-article99074357 ) Note that in this advert the brand name is spelled 'Star-Lite', not Starlight, as in the following ad for the same vans. Another advert appeared in the Northern Times on Saturday, 6 June 1953 (p 11). However, on this occasion the brand name was listed as 'Starlite' (without the hyphen): (Source: National Library of Australia nla.gov.au/nla.news-article96503869 ) A folding caravan was also produced in Fitzroy, Victoria in the late 50's under the name Starlite by Starlite Canopy Co, but I doubt if there was any connection between the two, apart from the name. Don Ricardo
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Post by ashanda on May 26, 2021 21:36:53 GMT 10
Starlite caravansManufactured by H W Leadbeatter General Engineering Works, Alstonville, NSW Note that caravans were also produced under the name Starlite in Fitzroy, Victoria by the Starlite Canopy Co. It seems unlikely that there was any links between the two manufacturers.
starlight vans were only made to order and were quite luxurious at the time and i would dearly love to find one. if anybody out there in v.v. world has any info regarding one (any condition) i'd love to hear from you. geoff ('n jude)
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Post by ashanda on May 26, 2021 21:37:56 GMT 10
I have just bought a Starlight caravan, she is currently on her way to me in Queensland. Searched google for more info. which lead me here. I just need to figure out how to post photos and I will put some up of her.
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Post by ashanda on May 26, 2021 21:45:08 GMT 10
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Post by ashanda on May 26, 2021 21:55:14 GMT 10
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Post by hughdeany on May 26, 2021 21:55:37 GMT 10
Hi Ashanda, Nice van there btw! It’s been around for a while and I have a vague recollection of it being home made by the owners Grandfather in the sixties,it’s been documented on fb somewhere a few years ago. Cheers hughdeany
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Post by ashanda on May 26, 2021 21:56:11 GMT 10
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Post by ashanda on May 26, 2021 21:57:47 GMT 10
Hi Ashanda, Nice van there btw! It’s been around for a while and I have a vague recollection of it being home made by the owners Grandfather in the sixties,it’s been documented on fb somewhere a few years ago. Cheers hughdeany Thank you. Apparently she has a full log book, so looking forward to having a look through it.
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Post by ashanda on May 26, 2021 21:59:14 GMT 10
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Post by ashanda on May 26, 2021 21:59:56 GMT 10
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