In the 1970s when Aussies sang of their love for football, meat pies, kangaroos and Holdens, odds were that close behind the car was a Viscount caravan. Join us as we dive into the history of this caravanning icon.
Viscount brought mass production to the industry, making stylish and durable caravans affordable for average families for the first time.
At its peak in 1978, not long after taking over arch-rival Millard, Viscount accounted for three out of every four caravans and campers sold.
No one could have foreseen that just a few years later the company would be on the ropes, desperately struggling to stay in the game.
The story began in 1956 when John and Maureen Carr arrived in Adelaide with not much more than a suitcase. She was just 19 and he was 24. The newlyweds were part of the ‘Ten Pound Pom’ wave of immigrants paid to come and help ease the country’s post-war labour shortage.
Maureen’s first and still vivid memory of Australia is disembarking from a P&O liner and being taken on a cattle truck to their first home, a crowded and draughty former army barracks.
It was an inauspicious beginning for a couple who were later to enjoy incredible wealth and luxury.
Want to win a fully-restored 1977 Viscount Supreme? Find out how, here.
John was a talented carpenter and both went to work straight away. After a couple of short-lived jobs, Maureen says John found himself building caravans in a small backyard operation owned by a man by the name of Hardy.
“Before long John started his own caravan building business in a milking shed on a big old dairy farm. We worked nights and weekends. When our first daughter Jacky was born she lived in the back of our car for about the first eight months as we were constantly on the road on sales trips.”
Maureen takes credit for coming up with the name Viscount, inspired by the excitement surrounding the arrival of the first Vickers Viscount airliner flying into Adelaide.
As well as doing the books in the early years and making curtains for the vans, Maureen also takes credit for actually selling the first Viscount. She just happened to charm a farmer passing by the single caravan they had on display at the Royal Adelaide Show.
“Actually it was the second caravan we’d built. The first one was in the yard back at the dairy because we needed somewhere to live when Jacky was born. It was the display caravan and I had to keep it spick and span – and disappear when a buyer came along.”
Buyers did come and quickly appreciated the quality and workmanship of John Carr’s caravans. Viscount grew quickly, moving to a new purpose-built factory and a few years later to NSW.
The Carr family also grew, with four daughters and a son following in close succession. Maureen says it was initially tough for the family as every spare dollar was ploughed back into the business.
As Australians became more prosperous in the 1960s, Carr found success by delivering lightweight luxury caravans almost a generation above anything else on the market. By the latter half of the decade he’d perfected mass production of strong aluminium frames.
In July 1965, the company moved to a huge new factory complex at Orange Grove Road Liverpool, famed for being “the biggest complex of its type in the southern hemisphere”.
Starting work on the first day was a bright young accountant by the name of Garry Dunn. He was excited to be working alongside the boss who the workers called ‘JC’ – “short for Jesus Christ”, they said half jokingly.
Carr and Dunn developed a close working bond based on their passion for numbers and JC’s desire to drive down costs.
However Dunn was amazed to learn the man already regarded as one of Australia’s most successful up and coming businessmen could barely read or write.
“His handwriting was so poor he often asked me to complete documents for him.”
Maureen Carr says her late husband suffered from mild autism, a secret they never told their children. However both Maureen and Garry Dunn say whatever JC lacked in literacy skills he more than made up for with other talents. Put a spreadsheet in front of him and he could tally up the columns with ease.
“When we arrived in Sydney and he saw the site he wanted for our first factory he just got out of the car, walked in, came out a short time later and told me he’d persuaded the owners to sell. The same thing happened when we later bought the factory site at Orange Grove Road. He just convinced the market gardeners who were there it was time to move on,” Maureen says.
As the years of hard work brought big rewards in the 1970s, the Carrs travelled the globe, making alliances and doing deals. Dunn says they constantly sent back new ideas, materials and components. Senior staff and their families were also rewarded with fact-finding tours to the US.
“At one stage the former Viscount factory at Lansvale was converted into a flat pack furniture factory after John went to Sweden, saw IKEA and decided to do the same thing here,” Dunn says.
Changes came rapidly in the mid 1970s. Gordon Cairnsdale, who’d steered the company for many years, died suddenly after a road accident late one night on his way home from the factory.
According to Dunn, Cairnsdale had been a crucial partner in the business, working with Carr to make it successful. Not long after that, the former junior accountant was appointed managing Director of Viscount Industries.
Dunn headed the company through what were to be its final glory years as Carr lived the life of a global playboy, even opening a nightclub on the Gold Coast.
Dunn says Viscount’s success at that time was largely due to being close to the major dealers at the time and quickly adopting new innovations.
Read the full story – download the app to read Issue 11 of ROAM magazine
Want to win a fully-restored 1977 Viscount Supreme? Find out how, here.
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21 Comments
Wayne Farquhar
Gordon Cairnsdale was driving John Carrs gold Jenson Interceptor when he had that crash.
Jane Richards
Hi Wayne,
I would like to contact you to chat about your memories of Viscount Caravans. Is that possible?
Jane
David Sobel
Hi Wayne, just reading the interesting story of Viscount. I am presently sitting along side the Gordon Cansdale mentioned above, he tells me that it was not a gold interceptor,it was brown. Gordon is very much alive at 26 Aug 2021
Regards
David, son in law Gordon Cansdale
Ron
W S go away
June
We had a Viscount for years best part of growing up spending time in the caravan. Would buy a caravan when i win lotto ?
ED
just purchased a viscount 1974 supreme 16 foot couple weeks ago.
amazing how original it is. needs couple of window catches and new stickers f and r. touch up stripes on side and its magic. sorry ,got carried away. Ed.
Morag
Hi Ed. I have a 1970 Viscount Royal. Would be interested in chatting if possible. Morag Stirling SA
Deborah
I would love to read the full story but when I click on the link to issue 11 of “The Roam” it comes up with an error page not found ? would any one be able to help me out on how to read the full story please TIA
Christopher Ryan
Can someone please tell me how to get a Manual for my 1998 Gazal Champion Caravan, I want to do it up but don’t know all the specs
Darryl
Yeah my fathers side were £10 poms and worked at Viscount. JC actually came to our house in Cabramatta in a Gold Maserati and took me for a cruise to Warwick Farm and back , I must have been 7 or 8 yrs old. He was smoking a big cigar and was a friendly and smiling fellow! I remember, vaguely an enormous Xmas party at Orange Grove Road , 1 time only. Presents for all the kids . I got a plastic skateboard that didn’t steer LOL. Seems John Carr was a very generous individual.
Penelope
My father worked as a General Manager, at Australian Screw Company.
His name was Frederick Kirk.
Josh
As his grandson, I can assure you Gordon Cansdale is most definitely NOT dead. Best check your source on that one….
Kerrie Waldon
My dad worked for Viscount Caravans in Orange Grove Rd, Liverpool for many many years till it went to QLD. He was asked to go but however at that stage we could not go. He loved his time at Viscount as a foreman/carpenter. Thank u for the memories x
Don Hooper
Hi. We have a 1960 Viscount. Purchased from the original first owner now 95. Also have the original sales receipt for £880 pounds. We have repainted the inside to freshen it up The exterior is in amazing condition for its age. A truly beautiful van.
Jane Richards
Hi Kerrie,
I would like to contact your father to chat about his memories of working at Viscount Caravans. Is that possible?
Jane
Cory
I’m sure my dad would be only to happy to talk if you like?
Deb
Can anyone tell us where we could send a pic and have someone identify the year and model of viscount? Thanks
Nell
We have a 17foot triple bunk Viscount. Probably time to sell now. Good condition but needs a respray on some parts of the outside. White with green strip. Huge lounge area when the double bed is folded into the wall. Best floor plan for a family with a few kids. Loved ever minute in it.
Cory
I grew up as a kid living on the premises of the factory at orange grove road. We lived up above the spares dept. It was so much fun when the workers went home. My brother and I caused so much grief for my dad. I remember john carr and Gary Dunn. It was an amazing place, amazing play ground.
Nathan
I worked for John Carr casually two days a week during his final days in Brisbane. Helping him trade the stock market, use his Reuters terminal and automate his portfolio accounting. It is great to hear how he came to be so successful. RIP
Haydn Bucher
Hi all here,
I have a Viscount Ambassador E976 and was hoping to find the correct year of manufacture. (1965/66?) If anyone can help I would be very grateful as I am re-registering it, having brought it back to repair, clean, refurbished, serviced and roadworthy.
many thanks for any response in advance.
Haydn.