Australian Off Road (AOR), a caravan manufacturer with over 25 years in operation, has ceased business, entering administration earlier this week. The Caloundra-based company, located on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, leaves customers who paid deposits without their anticipated vehicles and around 100 employees without jobs.
AOR founder Steve Budden stated that the company's closure was a direct result of a challenging manufacturing environment. He cited intense competition from imported caravans, which are often priced lower, and the presence of competitors with significantly reduced manufacturing overheads as key factors that made sustaining the business in its current form increasingly difficult.
The company built approximately 250 caravans in 2025. Nick Keramos of DVT McCleods, appointed as the administrator, is currently assessing the full extent of AOR's debts. His team is investigating the company's assets and will provide a report to creditors regarding potential recoveries in the future.
ASIC records indicate that Mr. Budden, 77, and Barry Evans, 62, were directors of Rhost Pty Ltd, the company behind AOR.