Arnold Bray's Motorhome

"I have spent much time restoring this vehicle to its previous useable state. It is in need of a paint but everything else is ready. We intend driving it in April to Canberra on the 2001 Federation Rally under the sponsorship of Westfarmer Federation Insurance".

Interview with original owner of the Motorhome - Mrs Alma Bray (87 years old) - February 1999.

Arnold Bray was the engineer at the power plant at St Arnaud prior to moving into Bendigo.

The name ‘Inga’ means ‘rest a while’. the wrought iron name was made by winning a competition.

The truck was bought new in 1952 as a forward control body. The body was built in Apollo Bay and everything required was brought down from Melbourne. The main body is constructed with 1.9mm aluminium sheet; the front doors are modified FJ Holden doors. Arnold built everything from the grill back. It was originally painted with Wattyle paint, cream at the top and yellow base below the aluminium strips.

He installed the kerosene heater, water tanks, fuel tanks and refrigerator, etc. The kero fridge was always quite good, but never left alight when travelling.

They ran a bakery in Apollo Bay and built the van after selling the business and spent about 5 or so years building.

A biscuit tin in a long drawer was used to store bread. Clips on the wall under the bar were for an ironing board. The bar only ever actually held the likes of tomato sauce, vinegar, etc. The windup clock on the wall by the dresser was a golfing trophy won by Mrs Bray. In the wardrobe, the shoes, to stop them rubbing when travelling were kept in individual bags above the wheel arches.

The scoop on the roof was used to pressurise the van and stop the ‘bull dust’ getting in, thus they had no trouble with dust inside on any of their travels.

The inaugural trip was to Tasmania in 1960 and it also went around Australia for four years. The roads were rough across the Nullarbor and up past Cooktown. These rough roads took their toll on the boot and it required extra bracing fitted to stop it flexing. It has travelled to Darwin, West Coast, etc. They intended to camp out on their own as they always had plenty of water and petrol, including enough to get all the way from Ceduna across the Nullabour without re-fuelling.

They never had any trouble with anyone while travelling but also had the horn hooked to an alarm, which would go off when the door was opened around 9 inches.

A hook in the roof above the bed was used to hang washing to dry while travelling. Condensation was a bit of a problem.

A storage area under the bed had a number of wooden boxes (two long and two half boxes) which held a stock of groceries for travelling. They could also be accessed through panels under the mattress.

Canvas covers for the front and back windows protected the vehicle when parked. The curtains were originally green to be dark enough to keep the light out. The coloured bands on the base of the current curtains were part of the original curtains. The plug at the rear (external) is for the TV aerial.

There was a 240-volt generator in the boot, plus a little washing machine. A pump was carried with hoses used to move water from a creek up to the van. An old copper was kept in the cupboard above the sink, it had legs and a stand and a blowtorch was used to heat it. This was then put into the washing machine.

Before rising, the kero heater was used to warm inside the van and also for cooking eggs, toast, etc. It was later used to heat up the hot water tank for showers, washing up, etc., and that lasted all day. A temperature gauge above the sink was the indicator for the hot water service temperature.

Two round back kitchen chairs were used to sit at the table. There was a small woodcase black and white TV mounted over the bed so they could sit in the chairs or bed and watch it.

The shower was fully functional as a shower and a toilet which was in an old butter box.

There are two hiding areas where money and valuables could be secreted away, always keeping money in them when travelling.

A rack above the door was used to keep newspapers in. The van had an annex that was added later by Alan Stevens to create more living area.

An axe and a spade were always carried, located where the spare wheel is.

Wooden pieces behind the the drivers seat were used to help level up the truck when setting camp for the night. A small level is located in the cabin to help. There is also a bell which acts as an intercom between the van and driver.

Roof racks held a TV aerial and fishing rods. The bamboo pole was a radio aerial. the radio was only transistor and somehow sat outside the window for best reception. Didn’t carry a stepladder.

I have spent much time restoring this vehicle to its previous useable state. It is in need of a paint but everything else is ready. We intend driving it in April to Canberra on the 2001 Federation Rally under the sponsorship of Westfarmer Federation Insurance.

• 1952 Austin 3ton truck • 6 cylinder (4.0 litre)

• Four speed floor shift • Weight 3.7tonne

• Wheel base 3.3m • Genuine 73,000 miles

• 88 gallon fuel tank (returns 10-12 mpg) • Turning circle of 43 feet

Special Features

• Built in shower, toilet, wash basin and cocktail cabinet

• Hot water service heated by Kero Fyreside

• Kerosene fridge

• 12 volt self starting generator (built in and able to be remote started from inside van)

• Portable 240 volt generator

• Portable washing machine

• Burglar alarm on doors

• Air scoop to pressurise van and eliminate dust

• Black and white television

• Individual pump switches on each tap

• Negative earth cut-out lever beside driver

• Old style seat belt for driver

• Flywire door retracts from the base

• Exhaust fan at stove interchanges with shower exhaust

• Hatch through to driver for serving coffee, etc

• Demister works directly off engine fan

• Driver side wiper has manual over-ride

• Windows fitted with roller fly wire screens

• Curtains made so closed, they do not cover any window

• Roof rack for fishing rods and TV aerial

• Flip up radio aerial on side of truck, using cane rod

• Power take off on gearbox for air compressor

Alan and Christine Stevens, Bendigo (3rd owners)

Ph 03 5448 8494, V20946