8634.0 - Tourism Indicators, Australia, Jun 2001  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 13/11/2001   
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INTRODUCTION

Purchase of a caravan is usually a long term investment. This article contains figures for new registered caravans for the last three financial years. The total number of caravans registered in each State and Territory as at 31 October for 1997, 1998 and 1999 are also included. It is important to note that these statistics are compiled from motor vehicle registrations so they exclude all unregistered caravans such as those which are permanently on-site at caravan parks.


NEW REGISTERED CARAVANS

The number of new registered caravans has grown in each of the last three financial years. Between 1998-99 and 2000-2001 there was a 30% increase in the number of new caravans registered (see table F3.1).

F3.1 New registered caravans
1998-99
no.
1999-2000
no.
2000-2001
no.
NSW
1,774
2,146
2,444
Vic.
3,447
3,526
3,647
Qld
1,242
2,086
2,786
SA
1,168
1,245
1,264
WA
1,109
1,178
1,185
Tas.
65
109
130
NT
19
14
23
ACT
41
58
66
Aust.
8,865
10,362
11,545
% change from previous financial year
. .
16.9
11.4

Source: New Motor Vehicle Registrations.

Queensland has shown strong growth in the number of new registered caravans during the last two financial years, up 68% in 1999-2000 and 34% in 2000-2001 compared to the previous financial years. The Northern Territory was the only State or Territory to record a fall in new caravan registrations, falling 26% in 1999-2000 compared to 1998-99 (see graph F3.2), although it recorded strong growth in 2000-2001. The Northern Territory also has the lowest number of new caravan registrations (see graph F3.3).

Graph F3.2 NEW REGISTERED CARAVANS, growth on previous financial year,


Victoria has by far the largest number of new registered caravans, accounting for around a third of all new caravan registrations in all three financial years (see graph F3.3).

Graph F3.3 NEW REGISTERED CARAVANS, Proportion of all new registered caravans,


TOTAL CARAVANS REGISTERED

There were 269,491 caravans registered as at 31 October 1999, a small increase (1%) on the figure for 31 October 1998. Most States and Territories saw modest growth in the number of caravans registered on 31 October 1999 compared to 31 October 1998, with New South Wales and the Northern Territory the exceptions, recording a small decline. Queensland showed the strongest growth in caravan registrations in 1998, up 4% at 31 October 1998 compared to 31 October 1997. The Australian Capital Territory had stronger growth than Queensland at 31 October 1999 compared to 31 October 1998 (5%) but this followed negative growth in the preceding period.

Victoria has by far the largest number of registered caravans, accounting for over a third (34%) of all caravans registered in Australia as at 31 October 1999.


F3.4 Caravans registered as at 31 October
31 Oct 1997
31 Oct 1998
31 Oct 1999
NSW
57,017
58,866
58,574
Vic.
93,408
92,447
92,962
Qld
39,821
41,392
42,778
SA
28,586
29,509
29,730
WA
36,727
37,752
38,119
Tas.
5,207
5,151
5,253
NT
675
663
654
ACT
1,387
1,350
1,421
Aust.
262,828
267,130
269,491
% change from previous period
. .
1.6
0.9

Source: Motor Vehicle Census.


CONCLUSION

The number of caravans registered in Australia is growing, both in terms of total registrations and registrations of new caravans. Victoria has by far the largest number of registered caravans of any State or Territory and also recorded the largest number of new caravan registrations over the last three financial years.