Historical information
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.
Significance
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.
Physical description
Black and white rectangle photograph printed on photographic paper and unmounted.
Inscriptions & markings
Reverse:
3536/
[logo back printing: KODAK/ VELOX/ PAPER] /
C798
Subjects
- 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
References
- Beechworth: A Titan's Field by Carole Woods ISBN/ISSN: 0 949905 25 9 Information on L.H. Sambell advocating for the development of the lake, and R.E. Carter's improvements to the lake in the 1950s and 60s (p188,190)
- Propert 'Trailaway' touring caravan, a unique example built by the company in 1956 for advertising purposes Caravanning in Australia in the 1950s and 60s
- The Crazy Future & History of Caravans - A Humorous Timeline Infomation on increase in car ownership and caravanning popularity
- LAKE SAMBELL-WALLACE PARK DEVELOPMENT LAKE SAMBELL-WALLACE PARK DEVELOPMENT, Boarder Morning Mail, 10 December 1947 1947 fundraising and improvements to the lake
- MR. BAILEY AT BEECHWORTH, The Argus, 6 October 1928 Opening of lake in 1928
