Brewer Caravan (Newport, Vic)

[Don Ricardo]

Brewer Caravan
Manufactured by Brewer Racket Company
Newport, Vic

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1937 Brewer caravan advertisement

The Argus, Tuesday 23 February 1937, p. 5

(Source: National Library of Australia nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11972282 )

Just goes to show that there's not much that's new in caravan design, including a caravan/boat combination!

The Brewer caravan seems to have been quite luxuriously fitted out for it's time. Fittings included "...6-valve superhet (?) radio, electric light over each berth, ice chest, zinc lined bread and cake cabinets, built-in breadboard, two 8-gal water tanks, wardrobe with six drawers, 8-day clock, five sponge rubber berths upholstered in red leather, ...table and seating accommodation for five adult persons, two-burner petrol stove with oven...", not to mention the 12 foot boat to seat six persons with upholstered seats and oars with leather grips!

Can you tell me, though, how a 12 foot long boat fits inside a 11 foot 6 inch long caravan??

The Brewer caravan/boat combination came at a price. At a time when a Windmill caravan cost the equivalent of $157 and a Don caravan cost $196, the Brewer cost between $400 and $550.

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It appears from an advertisement in The Argus on 4 December 1937 (p 26), that the Brewer was a hit at the Coronation Motor Show held in May of that year and was named "Queen of Exhibit":


(Source: National Library of Australia nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11129733 )

Don Ricardo

[Don Ricardo]

In researching the history of Olympic caravans, Boblor has discovered a connection between the Dimmack family (founders of the Olympic caravan company) and the Brewer Racket Company, which built Brewer caravans. According to Boblor:



Note also the apparent link between Brewer caravans and Brewer (tennis) rackets.

[cobber]

This 4 page brochure sold on ebay October 2011
It was described as

"Vintage late 1937 Brewers caravan brochure of 4 pages plus two other pages of Brewers products. Brewers were a Newport, Vic, based company who made caravans which included the Style Leader featured in this brochure which also was capable of carryibg a boat as well. Brochure is on good condition for its age with minor wear".

[Don Ricardo]

Article featuring the (unnamed) Brewer caravan and Land Cruiser caravanette published in the Melbourne Argus on Tuesday, 2 March 1937 (page 5):


(Source: National Library of Australia nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11046336 )

Note the men sliding the motor-boat into the back of the caravan. The ability to store a boat in this fashion was a particular feature of the Brewer vans.

Don Ricardo