Cruiser's Hilandale caravan

[cruiser]

I hope that I have the right section for this thread. If this is wrong Don could you please advise as this is my first time I have posted. Last week I purchased a Hilandale caravan by Georges and sold under the name EVERNEW. I was informed that it was manufactured in 1963 and was once owned by rock legend Jonny O'Keefe although I have been able to authenticate this yet. It is in very good condition having been shedded sice 1984. It has some roof damage but apart from that is excellent. I towed it home from Wangaratta to central west NSW and it towed fantastic even on rough roads.

Regards Arthur

[Jennison]

How did you sneek that one by Larry?!
He lives at Wang
He'll be broken hearted
Seriously cruiser, well done and welcome to the forum. Any photos yet??
regards
jennison

[Franklin1]

G'day Arthur, and welcome to the forum! ;D

I also wondered about that Evernew sticker on your van when I saw it listed on ebay. It seemed like a bit of a furphy because I thought Evernew was a much later brand of caravan. However, blow me down if another Hilandale hasn't appeared on ebay with that same Evernew sticker. So, I wonder what the story is?? I have a Caravan And Camping magazine from late 1974 which lists Evernew as being at 95 Bell St., West Heidelberg. The added text says: "Twenty-five years experience in business and the last eleven building caravans to custom and design requirements." So, 25 years before 1974 puts them starting business in 1949. But starting as what, though?? And the "last eleven" means from 1963, so maybe they bought into the Hilandale operations in 1963 but kept the Hilandale name and added their Evernew name as well?

Great story about J.O'K. owning your van. Who's gonna know any different? From this website comes this snippet of information:

"Did you know?
In USA all the stars did shows at the Fairs and in Australia they followed suite. Johnny O'Keefe, Lonnie Lee,The Bee Gees and a host of others toured Australia in caravans doing 20 to 30 minute shows in large tents. Lonnie recalls doing 28 shows in one day at Sydney Showground in 1964."


Looks like you've got a real "Rock 'n Roller" there, Arthur!

♫Doo-wop-dee-doo♪

cheers,
Al.

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Cruiser and Franklin1,

Interesting point Al has raised about Evernew and its origins. Like Al, I was under the impression that Evernew were relatively late comers to the caravan business - 70's or 80's, but apparently not so late after all. Their website currently states:

"Evernew Caravans Pty Ltd is a family owned and operated business, continuously operating from the same site in Heidelberg, Victoria, since it was established in 1963."

Not sure what that means about the period from 1949 to 1963.

Anyway apart from the issue of when they started, the other impression I have is that Evernew have always had a second hand van side to their business. Perhaps this consisted of the vans that were traded in on a new Evernew? If that is the case, perhaps they stuck an Evernew sticker on the second hand vans they sold.

A similar thing happened with Doug Thorley, the caravan dealer who stuck his 'Doug Thorley' and 'Styline Executive' stickers on the second hand vans he sold...the difference being that from the pics of the Hilandales we've seen, Evernew appears to have been happy to leave the original maker's name on the vans whereas Mr Thorley replaced the original name plate on the vans with his own.

None of this is to discount a possible link between Hilandale and Evernew. Maybe its worth a phone call to Evernew? If the business is family owned there's half a chance that there might be somebody there that knows a bit of history?

Cruiser we'd like to see some pics of your van if you are able. We all like photos! There are instructions on how to do it in the Helpful Hints section of the forum (see Jim's instructions). Alternatively maybe Al can post the photos of your van if he saved them from Ebay?

Don Ricardo

[Franklin1]

G'day DonR,

I can't recall coming across an Evernew van from the 1960s, can you?? You would think we'd at least have seen ONE of 'em along the line somewhere? Any mention of them in the Windser books? Where's that hughdeani fella when we need him?!

Al.

[Deleted]

Hi men,I think Evernew also did some badge engineering before they became custom builders,because over the years I have seen Nomad,Skyline,Hilandale with Evernew stickers on them.
Nomad was a Hilandale sold and hired by a fellow in Mt Waverley in the sixties.He had about 6 in his front yard and more at the local servo.
Hope this helps somewhat.
hughdeani

[cruiser]

Hi, everyone, I sent an email to Evernew but don't have a reply as yet. Maybe Al still has the photos from Ebay he can post for me or I can take and post when the handbrake returns from holidays in Adelaide. Replaced all the timber around the hatch today so that part is done. Will work on the damaged roof in the next few days I hope. A couple of pieces of timber to replaced on the bottom of the van and some work on the brakes and hey presto time for a good outside clean. I have been led to believe the van was sold by Evernew when new. I am attempting to follow the history back on the van too see what I can find out.
Cheers Arthur

[sheppo]

Interesting guys, My dad bought a hillandale in 64 not long after he picked up his new EH 179 wagon. We went to Heidelberg to pick it up but it only had hillandale stickers on it. I will ask mum to go thru the old photos and post a picture of it. As a kid we used to go away lots on weekends in Vic. I remember dad sold it and bought an Evernew a few years latter from the same factory. Sorry to muddy the waters.

[cruiser]

Hi Sheppo, You have an interesting point about your dads van only having Hilandale stickers, There is one on Ebay at the moment and I can only see Hilandale stickers on it, there is no sigh of any Evernew markings, also the photos of halandales I looked at on a google site didn't have Evernew on them either. Evernew have not chosen to answer my email regarding hilandale vans.
Cheers Arthur

[Geoff & Jude]

hi arthur

in the second photo, the rear view, there is an evernew sticker above the numberplate. you may need to enlarge it to see it better.

geoff

[cruiser]

Thanks for that Geoff, The plot thickens. Is that your van in the avatar?
Cheerss arthur

[Geoff & Jude]

hi arthur

yes, that's our roadmaster, there's more about it here if you're interested.

geoff 'n jude

[cruiser]

hi Geoff & Jude, went and looked at your van pics, very nice outside resto. The van looks very nice inside. I have to decide about my fridge as I still have the original ice box and I have to entice the handbrake when she returns from hollies to do my new curtains. Started on the outside today (what a job). I love your victoria should make a lovely match for the van when hooked up. I can't wait to get mine on the road.
Cheers Arthur

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Cruiser, Franklin1, Hughdeani and Sheppo,

In my never ending search for "Truth and the Hilandale Way", I posted some other photos of the following Hilandale caravan earlier this evening...



...and strike me pink, if I didn't spy an Evernew sticker on the back of the van.

As Hughdeani and Sheppo have intimated, there must be more than coincidence to this Hilandale/Evernew connection - there's just too many vans around with both stickers.

Cruiser - Sorry, your thread has got a bit hijacked with this Evernew thing. Maybe we can copy some of the info we've gathered on your thread to the Hilandale DHL thread, and then get back to ooh-ing and ah-ing over your van, as we should be? (I've sent you a PM [personal message] in this regard.)

Don Ricardo

[cruiser]

Ah! Don Ricardo you have done it again, came up with another goody. There is definately more to this story yet to come I think regarding Hilandale and Evernew. What do you think? I will continue the search.

Cheers Arthur

[cruiser]

Hi Don, i notice that the van in the photo has a fridge cover from a much later van. My van has the original ice box in the same position and does not have a cover just the external covering. i wonder if this van was built with the ice box as well.

Cheers Arthur

[cruiser]

Hi everyone, some help would be greatly appreciated. My Hilandale has had a sticker on both sides under the side windows at the back. 180mm by 50mm. I would like to know if they said "hilandale" or "Evernew". Would anyone have seen these on a van anywhere.

Cheers Arthur

[Deleted]

Hi Arthur,
I'm pretty sure they are Hilandale stickers.
hughdeani

[cruiser]

Thanks Hughdeani. I will be getting some new ones mad. Took some pics today, just waiting for the handbrake to up load. New brake master cylinder arrived today. The coupling was totally seized but works well now. New wheel cylinders should arrive tomorrow, so all going well.

Cheers arthur

[shane]

here's some images of my hilandale

I hope I haven't stuffed up the post