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| Circus Caravan |
| This is no holiday caravan, it's a full time residence for the owners of Silvers Circus. |
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Caravans and mobile homes are a way of life in Australia, and for Anna Gasser of Silvers Circus, this is certainly true. Travelling from town to town with her troops means Anna's caravan is the only home she knows. So, it's no surprise that like most home owners, she's invested a lot of time and money making the van as attractive and comfortable as possible.
Anna and her husband Anton are 5th generation circus performers from Switzerland. They own and manage Silvers Circus with their three children, Tony, Rosita and Dominik. Anton trains and presents the animal component of the show, Silvers Grand Magic Circus Liberty Ponies. Anna used to perform on the trapeze, but has since retired to safer grounds as one of the circus managers.
Anna and Anton's caravan home was designed by their son Tony, who spends much of his time on the "wheel of death" during circus performances. He wanted to provide his parents with a van that had all the comforts of a modern home.
The caravan was built from the ground up using the expertise of a circus engineer on the Central Coast. It took two years to complete and cost $150, 000 but according to Anna, it was well worth the wait. Tony's design was influenced by mobile homes he has lived in around the world. The parts were imported from caravan companies in America and Germany, as well as the luxury yacht industry.
From the outside, the caravan looks like any other mobile home except for its size, a massive 45 feet long. It is yellow and white to blend with the circus colours.
Inside, the van looks like a luxurious home, with timber floorboards and marble benches. Anna loves rich timbers, so Tony chose to use Jarrah, Cedar and American Oak. As a result, the caravan is extremely heavy, weighing in at about 13 tonne.
The caravan has all mod cons, including split-cycle air conditioning, underfloor heating, back-up gas heating, even satellite TV. The van is wired with the latest in surround sound technology and the lights are all connected to dimmers.
While the furniture looks much as you'd expect to find in a well-designed home, it is actually a little different. The sofas were imported from Italy are bolted into place so they don't slip around the floor while travelling. Beside these are built in side tables with lockable storage drawers.
The kitchen is state-of-the-art with thick marble bench tops and a large pantry. The bathroom boasts a bath/spa/shower unit, as well as gold inlaid tiles that were bought in Toorak and cut to size. There are large water tanks underneath the caravan to service the kitchen and bathroom when mains water is not available.
Outside, the caravan has its own balcony and BBQ. The BBQ pulls out of the caravan wall and can be popped back into place when finished. The roof is an American design made from a sheet of rubber. This stops water leaking into the van and also acts as a dimmer for noise when it is raining.
Perhaps the most interesting feature of all is the movable walls of the caravan. When stationary, the caravan walls can be manually, or electronically extended to enlarge the size of the interior. When the caravan is mobile, the walls are pushed back into place so they don't overhang the side of the van. Even with the walls pushed in, the caravan is operable, although a little cramped in the living area. |
More Info
For more information contact Silvers Circus.
PO Box 1039
Hawksburn VIC 3142
Ph: 0418 449 999
E-mail: mailbag@silverscircus.com.au
www.silverscircus.com.au
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