PACKED with Holden style, this 60’s style Franklin caravan takes owner Tanya Bierwirth-Leigh back in time to the “good old days”.
When Ms Bierwirth-Leigh and husband Raymond saw the caravan advertised on eBay four years ago, it caught their immediate attention.
“I was scouring away at the time and we suddenly came across it,” Ms Bierwirth-Leigh said.
“I do not know why but it stood out to us and I immediately loved the colours.
“We bought it unseen and we were lucky the owner was a very nice and honest person and it was as good as she said.”
Ms Bierwirth-Leigh has shared a passion for “old vans” since she was a little girl.
“Mum and Dad had a cubbyhouse in the backyard – a half-rounded shape – that always reminded me of a caravan,” she said.
“Looking back through old family photos before I was born mum and dad actually had an old, round caravan and so did my uncle in Victoria.
“I saw all these photos and I have always been fascinated by them, I wanted one but now I have two.”
Completely restored before purchasing with new electrics, upholstery and a bold, red coat of paint, the caravan rivals, if not exceeds, its original condition.
Mr Leigh said the hubcaps – which he believes are from a Holden HQ – came with the caravan.
“I love how it has Holden axles under it which would have been changed when it was done up,” he said.
“We love Holdens which makes the caravan even more special for us.”
The couple said they slept in the caravan the first night they bought it.
“It was perfect for what we wanted it for,” Ms Bierwirth-Leigh said.
“I love the colour and I just how it takes me back to how life used to be when it was simpler and quiet.
“Everything used to be revolved around family and this caravan brings me back to the good old days.”
Ms Bierwirth-Leigh said the caravan had created many new friendships.
“We love taking it to the beach and spending time with the family,” she said.
“We have met a lot of people through it too because it is different and people want to come up and have a look at it.
“Although, I get embarrassed because we pull up to a caravan park and everyone has expensive caravans but every time someone will come over to look at this.”
Mr Leigh said he loved hearing stories from people who used to have similar caravans.
“We love hearing the stories of when the older people come over they say when they were kids they remember camping and growing up around these vans,” she said.
“They would have 12 or 13 kids and we would just think how can they all fit in a small caravan like this but they all did.”
Carrying the moniker Faithy Jean, Ms Bierwirth-Leigh said a lot of thought had gone into the name selection.
“We have an FJ Holden and we brainstormed how can we incorporate that into the name,” she said.
“My mum’s name was Jean Faith and Faith has been passed down from my great-grandmother, grandmother to my mum, myself and now my daughter.
“It is just a very meaningful name.”
Ms Bierwirth-Leigh and Mr Leigh are contemplating joining a caravan club to share their passion with like-minded people.
“All the caravan owners get together and deck their vans out with as much original ornaments as they can,” she said.
“This means original crockery, cutlery and linen and we have all of that.
“The lady before us had a bit of from the 70’s and it just was not right so I always source stuff from the 60’s.”
