After days of speculation, viral social media discussion and a widely shared 7 News report, StarVision Campers and Caravans has now responded directly to RVDaily about the sudden closure of its Melbourne showroom – and the company says the situation is very different to the narrative currently circulating online.
The caravan importer and dealer abruptly closed its Dandenong South showroom earlier this week, with reports claiming the business had “disappeared overnight” after clearing out stock and shutting its gates without warning.
The situation quickly exploded online, particularly after a 7 News report suggested customers had been left unable to contact the company while questioning the future of the business.
But according to StarVision, the emergency closure was triggered by a serious building safety issue – not a planned disappearance.
And after reviewing the documentation ourselves, there does appear to be evidence supporting that claim.
RVDaily has personally sighted a copy of the building inspection report provided by StarVision, which outlines extensive structural concerns inside the warehouse and showroom premises.
According to the report, inspectors identified active roof leaks throughout the warehouse, severe corrosion to roofing materials, major structural cracking and an internal ceiling considered at risk of collapse.
One section of the report states:
“The entire internal tiled ceiling is at risk of imminent collapse due to prolonged exposure to active leaking. This condition constitutes a major safety hazard, rendering the warehouse unsuitable for occupation. Immediate evacuation is strongly recommended to ensure the safety of tenants and their customers.”
The report also notes that part of the roof structure had already collapsed and warned the premises may remain unsuitable for occupancy during extensive rectification works.
StarVision claims the building had suffered ongoing water leakage problems for approximately four years, with the situation escalating suddenly in April after part of the roof structure gave way.
In a statement provided to RVDaily, the company said the closure was not planned and occurred after inspectors raised urgent safety concerns.
“The collapse issue at our showroom was a sudden and unexpected incident,” the company said.
“Due to serious safety concerns, we had no choice but to close the premises immediately to protect both staff and customers.”
The company also claims inspection reports had already been submitted to council before the recent media attention began.
One of the biggest concerns raised publicly involved reports of customers allegedly waiting on deposit refunds.
StarVision says it reviewed its refund records after the media coverage and identified one missed customer refund, which it described as an internal oversight rather than deliberate avoidance.
“We want to make it absolutely clear that there was never any intention to withhold customer deposits,” the company told RVDaily.
The company also claims the refund in question was processed before the 7 News report aired.
StarVision says it can provide records showing multiple other customer deposits had already been refunded during the relocation period.
At this stage, StarVision says it is actively searching for a new Melbourne showroom location and intends to continue operating.
The company argues the viral media coverage and online speculation have significantly worsened an already difficult situation.
“The current public narrative has unfortunately made an already difficult situation even harder for us,” the company said.
For now, enquiries and customer support are being handled online while the business attempts to secure a replacement premises.
Whether the situation settles down or continues escalating remains to be seen – but based on the building documentation provided to RVDaily, there does appear to be more behind the sudden closure than simply another RV business “vanishing overnight.”
