By NIKKI TODD
IT’S the end of an era for Cabarita as the Tweed coastal village prepares to farewell its only caravan park to make way for an upmarket residential development.
The redevelopment will contribute to the new look of the village, which has enjoyed a make-over in recent years including improved streetscaping and a new Woolworths.
Ken and Marie Hansen established Cabarita Beach Caravan Park some 50 years ago after purchasing, what was then the last remaining four blocks of vacant land in Cabarita, at the intersection of Tweed Coast Road and Cyprus Crescent.
Since then the 25-site park has played host to thousands of tourists over the years, captivated by the sound of the ocean 50 metres away and the native bushland bordering the park to the north.
“We’ve had whole generations of families staying here,’’ Mr Hansen said.
“And as their children have grown up they have brought their families back here with them.
“It has been a very traditional, family-focused park here at Cabarita. We are only a 25-site park so there were only ever 25 families here and everyone used to return every year – year-in, year-out – it was just like one big happy family.’’
One of the original residents in Cabarita, Mr and Mrs Hansen moved to the village from Victoria in 1962 after falling in love with the place during a trip around Australia.
After setting up the caravan park, they set their sights on Cudgen Lake where they established a popular water-skiing school and Cabarita Gardens Lake Resort which went on to become one of the East Coast’s most popular holiday destinations during the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s.
“It was such a wonderful area for families,’’ Mr Hansen said.
“We had donkey rides and horse riding, an animal farm – we created facilities for families. Both my wife and I used to run water-skiing shows on Sunday afternoons.
“We operated on an honesty box system here at the caravan park, so people would pay for their services while we were out at the lake.’’
The couple, who raised their own family in Cabarita and still live overlooking Cudgen Lake, sold the resort after the water-skiing school was forced to shut down when power boats were banned from Cudgen Lake.
They are now behind a development application to be known as Rose Maree, passed by Tweed Shire Council last September, which will see the caravan park demolished and replaced with a 23-unit, upmarket residential block.
“The site has just proved too small for economic retention as a caravan park as it is bordered by national park with no room for extension,’’ Mr Hansen said.
“I am a builder by trade and we will see construction of the new development through. We’ve put a lot of work into making sure it is suitable for the coastal area and climate. We’ve put a lot of thought into creating a design for residents’ comfort.’’
Despite the promise of a bright new future, it will be a sad day when the park finally closes, expected once the last four vans have been sold and relocated.
Brenda Neger, caretaker at the park for the past 20 years, said there would be many tears shed when she had to say her final good-byes.
“It’s been absolutely fantastic,’’ said Ms Neger, who is planning on returning to her native England to retire with family.
“There’s a lot of tenants who reckon I’ve been living in paradise for 20 years. I have some beautiful memories with some absolutely lovely tenants, they’ve all become more or less my friends.’’
For queries, contact Mr Hansen on 02 6676 1269.
