Part 8: Homes on Wheels

The holiday experiences of most Victorians changed markedly in the mid-20th century with the arrival of the affordable family car. Although motor cars had been available from the turn of the century, it was really only enthusiasts and wealthier families who took to the roads touring the state. The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (or RACV) was founded in 1903, and provided maps and tourist information for these early motorists. And companies developed products such as ‘auto tents’ and folding picnic tables to serve the new travellers on wheels.

Following World War II, the car was increasingly within reach of the average family. The Holden, in particular, was promoted as ‘Australia’s own car’. It was designed for holidays or the Sunday drive, as much as for work.

And then came the caravan. These early ‘homes on wheels’ first appeared in the 1930s. Such was their appeal that in 1937 the first significant caravan display was held and the RACV’s Caravan Club was founded. Owners could build their own simple bondwood caravans from do-it-yourself kits or purchase a manufactured van. This new combination of transport and accommodation gave families unprecedented freedom.

The Don Caravan was the first Australian-made and designed caravan. It was designed especially for local conditions by R Donald Robinson and his family at their factory in Oakleigh in 1934. Their catch cry was ‘You can stop wherever you choose, stay as long as you desire, and move when you feel like it’.

By 1937 Don was a household name featured in magazines such as Table Talk, which ran a special segment on the growing popularity of ‘Homes on Wheels’. The Don had the classic caravan shape, but with leadlight windows and flyscreens. Some models included a fold-down washbasin and bath. It was state-of-the-art caravanning for the time. By 1947 the Robinsons were building over 100 caravans a year.

By the 1950s, lighter aluminium materials were available and caravans were being manufactured on a mass scale. American-style caravan parks also began to appear.

In 1953 the Robinsons opened Greenacres Caravan Park in suburban Springvale. The Park boasted manicured grounds, electric power, laundry facilities, showers with hot running water, a children’s playground and an onsite milk bar.

In the 1970s a new generation of caravans provided heating and airconditioning, showers and toilets. Today’s vans include an even greater range of ‘mod cons’, and the ‘grey nomads’, who can be seen touring the country, have been responsible for the recent surge in caravan sales.