Gloria  Myers with her 1956 Roadmaster

VISITORS to a Victorian caravan park could have been forgiven for thinking they had stepped back in time.

For gathered at the banks of the mighty Murray River were 60 vintage caravans, many decorated with period items synonymous with their year of manufacture.

They had travelled from all parts of Australia for the six-day record-breaking National Vintage Caravan Rally at Mildura's Apex River Beach Holiday Park.

Administrator of the online vintagecaravans.com forum Geoff Tangey told Caravanning News that many were towed to the rally – held every two years – by period vehicles.

More vintage caravans had turned up for the gathering than ever before. And taking pride of place was a caravan dating back to 1936.

"The locals flocked out to Apex during the week to see what we were all about and inspect our 'vans," Mr Tangey, who owns a 1961 Roadhaven bondwood caravan which he tows with a 1957 Chevrolet sedan, said.

Peter Taylor, from Newcastle, found this home-made caravan about a year ago in a shed at Stawell, Victoria. It took him three months to get it ready for the rally.

"Also a lot of locals brought photos of their parent's vintage 'vans and historic vehicles that towed them on holidays when they were kids. One couple even brought photos of caravans that dad made in the 1940s in Melbourne. They were called Bentleigh caravans," he added.

A packed programme of events included a river cruise, barbecue and sausage sizzle.

Members of the local vintage vehicle club dropped in for a first hand look at the caravans on display and invited rallyists back to their club rooms for morning tea.

Mr Tangey summed up the rally as being absolutely magic, adding: "Mildura turned on beautiful weather for our week's sightseeing in the area."

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