In 1963, Bruce Bailey, aged just 19, joined his father in selling new caravans from the front yard of their rented Heidelberg Heights property. They had no idea that more than 50 years later, the Evernew name would be one of Australia's most loved and renowned caravan brands.
“My father had been in the car industry for many years since the War and was close to early retirement,” Bruce recalled, as we talked in his unpretentious, window-surrounded office. “He had started a business called Evernew Autos in the late 1950s, but with the growing interest in caravans in the early 1960s, he saw a new opportunity that would also allow me to get a start in business.”
Initially, the pair started the company by purchasing brand-new caravans with plywood sides and aluminium roofs from a local Heidelberg manufacturer, branding them ‘Evernew,' and selling them to eager purchasers for approximately £300 (pounds) – the equivalent of $600 – from their rented home on Bell Street.
By the late 1960s, the caravan industry was thriving, but when the company supplying him with new caravans got into trouble, Bruce decided to manufacture his own under the Evernew brand, which had gained a loyal following. Caravans were mostly made from unpainted silver aluminium back then, but the first Evernew caravans - built in leased workshops in Heidelberg in the early 1970s - were finished in white, making them stand out from the crowd.
The introduction of the pop-top caravan, new materials and the availability of a broader range of comfort features in the 1980s broadened the caravanning public's options and helped the industry recover, but Evernew chose to remain a custom builder.
Evernew has always been a family business, with Bruce, his son-in-law, Darren, and daughters, Amanda and Leanne, all playing significant roles in the day-to-day operations. Bruce remained a regular face in the Evernew yard until his retirement in 2017, paving the way for a new face to drive the Evernew brand.
Dani Bib came to Evernew Caravans through his experience in the motor vehicle industry and he soon recognised a unique opportunity to build a business for his family to be a part of.
Dani, along with his wife, two sons and daughter-in-law, took over the Evernew brand following Bruce's retirement, with a clear aim of providing a fresh perspective to the caravan market while retaining the heritage and quality that Evernew founders had cherished.
Evernew Caravans began the process of re-aligning the Evernew brand in 2017, beginning with a new modern logo that pays homage to the former brand elements and preserving the elements that instantly identify Evernew.