Kimberley Kampers

Background

Kimberley Kampers was founded in 1993 by Ian Canon and his son Greg in Ballina, New South Wales. The father and son team were avid off-roaders for three decades and saw an opportunity to build a purpose-designed camper trailer for Australia’s 4WD explorers. The name pays homage to the Kimberley region of Western Australia, known for its rugged and beautiful landscape. The first Kimberley Kamper rolled off the production line in 1994, and over the years more than 8,000 units were sold across Australia and 17 countries worldwide.

Kimberley Kampers is credited with several industry-first innovations: gullwing storage boxes and refrigerators on slides (2003), diesel hot water systems (2005), and the Kimberley Karavan hybrid released in 2006. James Cockburn became the third owner and helped revive the brand in 2019, with new management driving ambitions to share the products with a global market.

Ownership & Structure

Kimberley Kampers has changed hands multiple times. Founded by Ian and Greg Canon, the brand was purchased by James Cockburn and revived from 2019 onwards. The company is based in Ballina, NSW. There is also a US arm (Kimberley Kampers USA) based in Bellefontaine, Ohio, which sells and distributes the Australian-designed products.

Manufacturing

Kimberley Kampers are built in Ballina, NSW. The company uses a combination of aluminium construction and canvas for their camper trailers. Their design philosophy emphasises quick setup, off-road capability, and self-sufficiency for remote touring. The Karavan and Kruiser models use more conventional caravan construction methods. Under the new ownership, the company has been working to update designs and improve quality consistency.

Market Position

Kimberley Kampers sits in the mid-to-premium camper trailer and hybrid caravan segment. Their unique selling proposition has always been innovation and a strong heritage brand name. However, the ownership changes and period of closure have somewhat eroded the brand’s premium positioning.