Over the years many individuals and families stayed in the Wonthaggi Miners Rest Caravan Park because they had nowhere else to go. The local housing agency also relied on it when emergency houses were full.
For many years there were rumours about the park closing and eventually in 2019 it was really happening. The Wonthaggi Branch of the Australian Unemployed Workers Union took an active role in the lead up to the closure advocating for the residents who were to be evicted from the caravan park. Some members of the union lived in the caravan park and were faced with the challenge of where to find a home. Although officially everyone was rehoused we understand that not all the options were sustainable.
In February 2020 a public meeting drew 50 community members to hear speakers from Melbourne-based Defend and Extend Public Housing advocacy group and to discuss the housing issues in the Bass Coast Shire brought to a head by the caravan park closure.