an obscure custom, one-off fifth-wheel rig from Australia, the 1949 Highway Palace

The 46 ft long ‘Highway Palace’ was built in the mid-1940s for Harry Parr and his wife Daisy of Pinnaroo, SA, by Grace Brothers of Adelaide (a construction company) that built two standard fifth wheel caravans. The ‘Highway Palace’ was a ‘one off’, costing over £2000, a huge sum then. The tow vehicle is a 1946 Dodge Fargo, it only gets 4mpg. 

It has been meticulously restored by Dick Hart and his mates after being found in a serious state of disrepair.

In fact Dick says "It was ready for the bonfire as far as most people were concerned".

The caravan was discovered at Murray Bridge while the prime mover was found in a swamp at Wellington.

Dick and his friends worked pretty much every Saturday for five years to restore the Highway Palace to its former glory.

It was purpose built by Grace Brothers at Birkenhead in 1947 for Harry "Pop"  Parr, who owned Parr's Bakery at Pinnaroo.

Built to Pop's own specifications it was the only one of its type constructed.

Despite being more than 42 feet long (13 metres) the van only has two single beds in the bedroom at the rear.

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/meet-the-1949-highway-palace-a-monster-fifth-wheel-rig-with-deluxe-amenities-210516.html

https://wanderer.cmca.net.au/Article/Display/8d214a35-5b7a-43c9-b430-35a49c641d92

https://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2009/02/28/2501736.htm

https://www.caravancampingsales.com.au/editorial/details/palace-on-wheels-a-fifth-wheeler-restoration-20671/

current owner has a gallery of it at https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=100500868709548&set=pcb.100507045375597