Information
In 1942 Percy and Beatrice Hetherington rented a house in Young Street while Percy worked at Archerfield Airport. They parked their plywood caravan in their front yard and rented it to a neighbour for guest accommodation. The idea to set up a caravan park came from that idea. They purchased 2.75 acres in Turton Street across from the Oasis Gardens. The Seven Trees Holiday Caravan Park, one of Brisbane’s first caravan parks, was opened in 1944 by Percy and Beatrice Hetherington. By hand they cleared and levelled the site. They constructed an amenities block from iron sheeting that was part of an old shed on the property. Percy dug a 50 foot bore by hand. This bore water was used for showering and washing as there was no reticulated water to the site at that time. Hot water was provided in drums over an open fire. Later they built a kiosk and sold supplies and drinks. The Hetheringtons sold Seven Trees in 1958.
Citations
Sunnybank: paddocks to pavements, Sunnybank State High School P& C Association, 1985, p. 87, 89.
Image Citations
Map References
Qimagery. Brisbane City Council Series 1946. Scale: 1:15,900.