Sydney E Main

(1918-2013)

Sydney Ernest Main, as well as being an engineer, built of some of West Australia’s first caravans- the Star Caravans- from his backyard at 78 Oakover St, East Fremantle from 1941.

Sydney Main was born at Swanbourne in 1918, in his great-grandfather Joseph Furphy’s house, made famous because it was built by Furphy who, as Tom Collins, wrote the Australian classic Such is Life 1903. Much of Furphy’s writing was carried out while living and working in his brother's foundry; Furphy Bros. Foundry, in Shepparton, Victoria, Late in his life, Furphy moved to Western Australia to join his sons who had established an iron foundry there.

His mother was Emily Clara Furphy (1895-1978) and father was Walter Sydney Main ( 1882-1921). Walter Main was in Derby when he enlisted to serve in WW l in 1915 with the 32 Battalion, giving his next of kin as his sister Mrs Elizabeth Clayton at 28 Nairn st, Fremantle. Walter suffered Pneumonia and Malaria during the war and was discharged in 1917 as being unfit, with considerable disability. In 1917 he worked as a postman and he and Emily, married, lived in Griver St, Cottesloe. In 1919 they lived in Servetus St. Walter died after an accident in 1921 when Sydney was only 5 years old. His mother Emily, with three small children, went to live at 28 Nairn St. Sydney Ernest had a younger sister Merle Esma ( 1919-2007) and brother Walter Douglas ( 1921-1965).

Sydney was educated at the Fremantle Boys' School. Young Sydney then served his time as an engineering apprentice at the Furphy’s Bros’ Foundry in South Fremantle (founded by the sons of Joseph Furphy). He took over management of the business at age 20 on the death of his grandfather. This gave him the background to establish his own business.

In 1940 he married Joyce Emmie Staton (1921-2012). They lived at 78 Oakover St and had three daughters: Mara Diane (12.12.1941), Janice Emily (30.12.1944) and Cheryle Ann ( 5.9.1947).

In 1941, aged 22 Sydney commenced a factory-S E Mains Works, at Forrest St, East Fremantle. He won a Government contract during the war to produce agricultural fittings.

1942 “Does a mans Job” Sydney Main employed local women to work in the factory: (reference)

Initial staff were 3 men and 5 women.

Eight years later, in March 1949, he was described as being:

The proprietor of a rapidly expanding motor-body-building business with assets exceeding £15,000. Much of the phenomenal growth of the business…was due, in the initial stages, at least, to work done by women. Of the original staff of eight who assisted the proprietor and his wife (who has always been an active participant) five were girls and three were men

Their first work was on war contracts. For three years, with each of the women working a lathe, the team produced agricultural fittings. Long hours were worked, all hands averaging 90 hours a week. Sometimes the working day was, stretched from 7 a.m. on one day until 2 or 3 a.m. the next.” (reference)

When the war was over and more male labour was available, Mr. Main gave up engineering work and began motor-body building in a new factory in Forrest-street, specialising in caravans. It was a natural step from the building of caravans to the building of ambulances, buses and truck bodies. The staff increased to 31.

In 1937 it was reported that the craze for caravanning sweeping other countries was beginning to get a strong hold in Australia and It was estimated that some 20,000 would be touring Australia in 1937. (reference) Building your own caravan became very popular in the 1940s after the war:

Quite a substantial proportion of the caravans seen on the road today are the products of individual ingenuity and constructive ability. They are made by "back-yarders" and are the result of spare-time efforts by amateur craftsmen moderately skilled in the use of tools... ( reference)

 1946 STAR CARAVANS- THE WORLDS BEST.

Before you make that all important decision be sure you see the ''Star'' Range of Caravans. For Sale, Special De Luxe Star Caravan, 14 ft, 6in. Four berth, leather upholstered seats, kitchenette, sliding glass doors, stainless steel sink, wardrobe with mirror, porcelain lined ice chest, cupboards and drawers, stainless steel stove recess and stove, light ,water tank, wireless with battery, special tapestry covered bunks, curtains, fly wire windows and door, floor covered with carpet. This magnificent model is ready to drive away.

If you intend building your own caravan or Trailer we can supply the following; Complete Steel Chassis, Jockey Wheels, Retractable Legs, Springs, New 16 in, Wheels, Tyre’s and Tubes. Axles complete with New Hubs and Timkin Roller Bearings, Ball Joint Couplings, Dome Lights.

FOR THE RACING MAN WE ARE BUILDING TWO-HORSE FLOATS.

All classes of General Engineering, First Class Workmanship. All Work Guaranteed.

STAR CARAVANS, S.E. MAIN, 78 Oakover-street, East Fremantle.

NEW FACTORY CORNER COODE AND FORREST STS., FREMANTLE. L 2776.(reference)

1946 Main was Showcasing caravans in the goldfields (reference) and his family was featured on a caravan tour of the state in 1949. (reference)

In 1949 Mr. Main had ambitious plans to use his own men to build a new factory- designed to have room to employ 100 men. The S.E. Main Works was planned to comprise five factory premises (wood and asbestos with tiled roofs), and an administrative block of brick and stone. The whole factory would cover 30,000 sq. ft. of floor space. The estimated cost was £12,000. He planned to buy new wood-working and engineering machinery and a 30 h.p. diesel engine with a 30 kilowatt alternator supplies power to the whole plant making it independent of general power faults and restrictions. West Australian, Friday 4 March 1949, page 16 (reference)

Giant On Wheels: State Electricity Commission has taken delivery of 6 Star of the West caravans to house workers on the South-west electricity project. Builder-owner S E. Main of the model pictured has just completed an 8 weeks, 1200-mile trip through the south-west supervising delivery of the caravans. On part of the tour with him went his wife and 3 children. Mr Main returned to Perth yesterday from Albany, covering the 254 miles in 6 hours with the big caravan in tow behind his 17 h.p. Studebaker. During the tour 4000 people inspected the caravan, and 19 private orders were taken. Mr. Main estimates to put a caravan on the road, complete, in 6 weeks, at a cost of £1800. Caravan is 26 feet long, 7 feet wide, makes a difference of only 3 or 4 miles to the gallon to the mileage of a car. Built of Canadian spruce, it weighs only 28 cwt., has no sway or rock. Roomier than many a present-day "flat," the caravan is everything the modern housewife dreams about. Windows are shaded by small striped awning. Flywire screens cover windows and door. There are a bed-sitting room and a kitchen-dining room, which also conceals the built-in bath under a leather, upholstered seat.

Kitchen has built-in electric refrigerator, kitchenette, stainless steel sink, cupboards, dining table and leather seats, double-burner shellite stove with oven, electric iron and kettle, electric clock and wireless. There is electric light throughout. Caravan has 2 double beds and a single. Bedroom furniture (built-in) is in walnut veneer, comprises twin wardrobes, drawers and lockers. Equipped with hot and cold running water, the caravan has a capacity of 125 gallons. Building, furnishings and fittings- the complete job are done in the factory of S. E. Main, motor body builder of Forrest-st, Fremantle. Sunday Times, 25 September 1949, page 27 ( reference)

Materials and labour to build houses were scarce after the war. By 1950 it was for more than just leisure that people wanted caravans. The Daily News reported that:

NINE thousand West Australian families want a home. Some must live in sheds, back verandahs, caravans, garages and other stop-gap places. (reference)

Despite demand for caravans Sydney Main was made bankrupt in July 1950.

June 1950 Deputy-Commissioner of Taxation, through the Commonwealth Crown Solicitor, has issued a Supreme Court writ against Sydney Ernest Main, engineer and caravan builder, of Oakover-street, East Fremantle… ( reference)

Oct 1950: During long questioning by the Official Receiver (Mr. A. H. Johnson), Main said that insufficient capital for the expansion of his business and over-ambition contributed to his bankruptcy. He first became aware that he was in serious financial difficulties last January. (reference)

Oct 1950 Sydney Ernest Main (32), now working in Dowerin, told his story during his public examination in the Bankruptcy Court. Main was declared a bankrupt three months ago on the petition of the Taxation Department, which gained a judgment against him of more than £1000. His total liabilities were more than £12,000. At the time he was the proprietor of a caravan and motor-body building business in Forrest-st., Fremantle. Manager At 20 Main told how he became manager of a Fremantle engineering works when only 20, on the death of his grandfather. He married at 22 and while in his early twenties was running his own engineering business. By the beginning of this year, Main was employing 70 men, had new premises in Forrest-st. and had spent more than £10,000 on improvements. His business was increasing rapidly. But unknown to him, he said, he had overreached himself in extending his business not realising that his "books" gave an inaccurate picture of his financial position. Accumulation of debts caused his growing business to "crash" early this year. (reference)

From 1963 - 1968 the Mains lived in Melville where Sydney worked as a manager.

In 1972 Sydney and Joyce lived in Toolooa St, Gladstone, Queensland, where Sydney worked as a supervisor. Janice Emily their daughter was working as a nurse, and living at home.

In 1977 Sydney was living at the Riverside Caravan Park, at Eaton, a north-eastern suburb of Bunbury, on the south shore of the Collie River. He was listed as an engineer.

In 1980 Sydney and Joyce were living in Valentine Way, Australind.

Joyce died 25 March 2012 in Rockingham aged 91 years.

Sydney died, less than a year later, 22 Sept 2013 in Rockingham, aged 95 years.

Both were cremated and ashes spread at Karrakatta Cemetery.