The new Razor XT model
Royal Flair Caravans recently celebrated its 50th year in business with the release of two new rugged, offroad model vans unveiled with fanfare and fireworks at a festive party at its Melbourne headquarters.
Surviving 50 years in the caravan industry is no mean feat and Royal Flair managing director, Billy Deralas, believes that innovation, customer relationships and an unwavering commitment to quality over quantity are among the key ingredients to the company’s success.
Royal Flair’s growth
The business was established by his father Peter Deralas in 1975 as New Home Caravans in Reservoir, Victoria. In the early 1980s, Peter moved the business to Campbellfield, at a time when there were only about eight other caravan builders in the outer north suburb of Melbourne. He renamed the business Royal Flair in 1990.
Peter Senior’s mural
By 2010, the number of manufacturers in the new Victorian mecca of van building had swelled to about 100 and Royal Flair had to start thinking outside the box, producing family and offroad vans as well as traditional touring models.
In the years that followed, Royal Flair’s innovation turned the sector on its head. The distinctive Piazza model with its rear fold-out deck to create more outdoor living space is still one of Royal Flair’s most popular models.
The Raptor was specifically designed for campers who like to take all their toys away with them: roof top storage for tinnies, dinghies and kayaks, and a rear fold-up tray for quad or dirt bikes.
Royal Flair was among the first to incorporate motorised lift-up beds — common in motorhomes — into caravans to increase the inside living space.
Other models in the range include Razor, Aussie Mate, Eco Mate, Family Flair and the Designer Series.
Royal Flair focuses on quality over quantity. Billy is producing about four to five vans per week and has no intention of increasing that output because he doesn’t want to lose control of his quality as a custom builder.
And he walks the talk. Billy is a councillor on the Caravan Industry of Victoria board and has been instrumental in getting the recently launched RV Masters Manufacturers program off the ground.
His customer base is loyal. Many of them are return customers on their second and third caravans.
“I build a relationship with my clients,” Billy said. “It’s not just a purchase — it’s a journey we go on together to make sure their van is personalised and tailored to meet their specific needs.”
Royal Flair’s 50th celebration
New models for 2025
The two Royal Flair 2025 models launched on the night included the 19ft 6in Aussie Mate family van in a new khaki green exterior colour. Billy’s son, Peter, brought this van along to Caravan of the Year 2025 so expect to read more about it online in May and in the May and June issues of the Caravan World magazine.
With a front entry door, it features the roomiest corner triple bunks you’ll ever seen in a van — big enough for lanky teenagers and small adults. The main bed at the rear sits out of the way on the ceiling over the spacious club lounge. When the adults want to go to bed, a flick of the switch and it magically appears. It’s a great use of limited space.
Two new offroad vans revealed at the Royal Flair 50th celebration
The Razor XT in a new Dune exterior colour is another family van with more traditional double bunks up front and the lift-up bed over the club lounge at the rear.
Later this year, Billy will launch a 50th anniversary model based on ideas that have been in his head for years and as a legacy for his father, who passed away several years ago, and his hard work that made the company what it is today.
Attended by a who’s who of the caravan industry, media and the company’s 56 staff, the 50th anniversary party was held under a marquee in the front car park of Royal Flair’s Epping headquarters. Overlooking the proceedings was a giant image of Peter Senior which had been erected the day before. And a framed picture of him sat proudly next to the birthday cake.
For more information about the Royal Flair 2025 models, head here.
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