Questions are being asked about why a large Australian caravan manufacturer has collapsed leaving hundreds of workers unemployed just before Christmas.

Sunshine Coast-based Zone Manufacturing Pty Ltd fell into voluntary administration on Monday morning with the majority of its 250 workers made redundant.

The company made luxury caravans under the Zone RV brand, with some retailing for up to $270,000.

Electrician Michael Odendaal is among the sacked employees facing a stressful Christmas after the sudden collapse.

Mr Odendaal arrived at work at 6:30am on Monday before being summoned to an all-staff meeting in a nearby field at 9am.

“We all walked outside, then they shut all the gates and locked them,” he said.

To everyone’s dismay Zone RV founder and director David Biggar announced the company had entered voluntary administration and handed the microphone to the administrators.

“Basically what they said is they’re going to freeze all our assets,” Mr Odendaal said.

“We were escorted [back] in to go and take our bags out, three at a time.

“Some of us, I don’t know what we’re going to do because we don’t have any money just before Christmas.

“Now you have to try and look for another job at this time of year, which is pretty sh**ty.”

Employees were told it could take six weeks to get annual leave entitlements paid out.

Two months’ worth of superannuation is also owing, with workers’ super only paid up to September 30.

Later on Monday employees received emails from the administrators offering counselling and demanding they return any company property.

“We hereby advise that your services are no longer required and that your employment is terminated with immediate effect,” the letter said.

A small number of employees will continue working to assist the administration process.

Concerns about management

Zone RV is facing questions about customers who have paid but not yet received their caravans.

On Monday morning, just hours before the company collapsed, an employee directed customer Ray Davidson to transfer $40,000 as the final payment for his van.

When the employee returned to the factory the gates were locked.

A spokesperson for administrators Cor Cordis declined to respond to specific questions about when they were appointed, and whether the company should have accepted money from customers immediately prior to collapsing.

The corporate watchdog ASIC was contacted but declined to comment.

Mr Biggar was contacted for comment, and the company’s Facebook page has been removed.

Mr Odendaal said there had recently been supply chain and stock issues, but that was “nothing new”.

“About two years ago they scaled down and let a whole lot of people go because they had troubles,” he said.

“There’s been a lot of … people coming in and going out and trying to change everything, making it worse.

Mr Odendaal said he had more than seven weeks of annual leave owing.

“I never really took leave because it’s always inconvenient for me to not be there,” he said.

“We all just want to know what’s happening just before Christmas — are we getting any money or not?”

Former founder ‘disappointed’

Matt Johns co-founded Zone RV in 2015 and said the collapse was “sad” and “hugely disappointing”.

Mr Johns had a falling out with fellow founder Mr Biggar in 2020, leading to a formal exit in 2022.

“Regardless of that I had a lot of pride in what we built,” he said.

“The core product is strong, they’re well-built caravans, so hopefully that’s worth something to someone.

Dozens of customers who had paid for caravans are in limbo, with some having sunk life savings into their luxury purchase.

Jason Plant from the Caravan Trade and Industries Association of Queensland said it was too soon to consider the broader industry impact.

“Our thoughts are with customers who have lost deposits, workers whose jobs have been impacted, and with suppliers and contractors who are left with outstanding debts,” he said.

Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Rosanna Natoli said the council’s economic development department had been in touch with the owners “offering whatever support we can”.

“We really are thinking about that at the moment and keeping them in our thoughts and prayers,” she said.

“This is never good news for anyone.

“But we are hopeful that there is a positive way forward for this business which has really been a beacon of innovation for our region and for our country.”

Coolum Business and Tourism president Paul Miley said the fallout will affect the wider community.

“Having that happen to a business of that size in Coolum is obviously significant [and] it’s also significant for the time of year that it’s happening,” he said.

Darren Hocking manages a caravan park in Gympie which until two months ago was contracted to provide handover briefings to new Zone RV customers.

Under the arrangement, caravans were delivered to the park where owners received the keys and a two-day briefing before driving away with their van.

Mr Hocking said Zone RV abruptly terminated that contract a few months ago due to “financial reasons” after some payment issues.

“We are saddened by the recent news regarding Zone RV [collapsing],” he said.

“We would like to offer anyone who has been impacted heavily discounted stays in our luxe glamping tents or campground stays.”

The first meeting of creditors is scheduled for next week.