This photograph was taken in the 1960s at Lake Sambell Caravan Park and visible in the photograph are individual caravan sites with electricity outlets, a large single-story building with a caravan park banner, dirt roads, a freestanding message board, and a parked car. Lake Sambell Caravan Park opened in 1959 owing to the work of R.E. Carter, Beechworth Shire engineer from 1954-63. Carter advocated for improvements to the lake and surrounding area in order to encourage tourism in Beechworth. The opening of the caravan park was part of many improvements to Lake Sambell made in this period by Carter including: the swimming pool in 1961, water skiing and boating facilities, and increased lake surface in 1964. These improvements were financed mainly by grants from the Tourist Development Authority. The popularity of caravanning in Australia exploded during this post-war period of the late 1950s and 1960s. This popularity was driven by multiple factors, including: the stopping of fuel rations, the accessibility of car ownership through the manufacturing of affordable cars, technological developments in caravan design, and the increase in prosperity and leisure time for many Australians. Facilities such as electrical outlets to power caravans are present in this photograph of Lake Sambell Caravan Park. Lake Sambell is an artificial lake that was developed on the previous site of the Rocky Mountain Mining Company workings and was officially opened by Minister for Lands, Mr Baily, on October 5, 1928. The disused and unattractive remains of the mine were converted into a recreational area intended for swimming, boating, and fishing. The lake is named after Mr L.H. Sambell, shire engineer and secretary of the Forward Beechworth Committee, who advocated for the enhancement of Beechworth into a tourist destination and was central to the planning and establishment of the lake. This photograph is of historical and social significance in providing insight into caravanning during the 1960s in Australia. Caravanning was extremely popular during the 1960s in Australia due to multiple social and economic factors including the stopping of fuel rations, the accessibility of car ownership through the manufacturing of affordable cars, technological developments in caravan design, and the increase in prosperity and leisure time for many Australians.Black and white rectangle photograph printed on photographic paper and unmounted.Reverse: 3536/ [logo back printing: KODAK/ VELOX/ PAPER] / C798 lake sambell caravan park, lake sambell, caravanning 1960s, caravan park, rocky mountain mining company, kodak velox paper, r.e. carter, l.h. sambell, caravan electricity outlets, tourist development authority, post-war prosperity, forward beechworth committee, lake sambell boating, lake sambell swimming pool, lake sambell fishing, artificial lake, travel 1960s, recreation 1960s

This photograph was taken in the 1960s at Lake Sambell Caravan Park, visible in the photograph are individual caravan sites with electricity outlets, a large single-story building, a parked car, and two caravans partially obstructed by trees. Lake Sambell Caravan Park opened in 1959 owing to the work of R.E. Carter, Beechworth Shire engineer from 1954-63. Carter advocated for improvements to the lake and surrounding area in order to encourage tourism in Beechworth. The opening of the caravan park was part of many improvements to Lake Sambell made in this period by Carter including: the swimming pool in 1961, water skiing and boating facilities, and increased lake surface in 1964. These improvements were financed mainly by grants from the Tourist Development Authority. The popularity of caravanning in Australia exploded during this post-war period of the late 1950s and 1960s. This popularity was driven by multiple factors, including: the stopping of fuel rations, the accessibility of car ownership through the manufacturing of affordable cars, technological developments in caravan design, and the increase in prosperity and leisure time for many Australians. Facilities such as electrical outlets to power caravans are present in this photograph of Lake Sambell Caravan Park. Lake Sambell is an artificial lake that was developed on the previous site of the Rocky Mountain Mining Company workings and was officially opened by Minister for Lands, Mr Baily, on October 5, 1928. The disused and unattractive remains of the mine were converted into a recreational area intended for swimming, boating, and fishing. The lake is named after Mr L.H. Sambell, shire engineer and secretary of the Forward Beechworth Committee, who advocated for the enhancement of Beechworth into a tourist destination and was central to the planning and establishment of the lake. This photograph is of historic and social significance in documenting the enhancement of the Lake Sambell area overseen by R.E. Carter and providing insight into caravanning during the 1960s in Australia. Caravanning was extremely popular in Australia during the late 1950s and 60s due to multiple social and economic factors including the stopping of fuel rations, the accessibility of car ownership through the manufacturing of affordable cars, technological developments in caravan design, and the increase in prosperity and leisure time for many Australians. Black and white rectangle photograph printed on photographic paper and unmounted.Reverse: 3538/ [logo back printing KODAK/ VELOX/ PAPER] / C798lake sambell caravan park, lake sambell, lake sambell 1960s, lake sambell fishing, lake sambell boating, lake sambell swimming pool, r.e. carter, l.h. sambell, tourist development authority, caravanning 1960s, caravan electricity outlets, caravan park, forward beechworth committee, rocky mountain mining company, lake caravan park, caravan mid 20th century, beechworth tourism, travel in the 1960s, holiday 1960s