Many were, and continue to be, affected by the Holden story. The company's impact on the Australian manufacturing and cultural landscapes made Holden a much-loved Australian icon. The public outpouring of sadness at Elizabeth’s closure in 2017 – and the brand’s dissolution in 2021 – confirmed this even further.
In the final days of the Elizabeth factory, hundreds of past and present employees signed a white VF Series I Commodore. The 'signature car' is currently on loan to the National Motor Museum from General Motors Australia and New Zealand.
In the final days of the Elizabeth factory, hundreds of past and present employees signed a white VF Series I Commodore. The 'signature car' is currently on loan to the National Motor Museum from General Motors Australia and New Zealand.
Nonetheless, Holden’s legacy continues to live on. Still a symbol of national pride, the story of Holden continues through museums, archives, and personal collections; car clubs and rallies; and popular culture. Explore some of the ways that Holden continues to be remembered today, before adding your own memories at the bottom of this page.
Top: National Motor Museum. Bottom left: Mildura Holden Museum. Bottom right: National Holden Museum. Images courtesy individual organisations.
Top: National Motor Museum. Bottom left: Mildura Holden Museum. Bottom right: National Holden Museum. Images courtesy individual organisations.
Keeping heritage alive
Alongside the National Motor Museum, various museums and organisations around Australia are passionate about keeping the Holden spirit alive. Among them are the Mildura Holden Museum, the Trafalgar Holden Museum, and the National Holden Museum in Coffs Harbour. The State Library of South Australia is also custodian to the extensive GMH Holden archive, with photographs, brochures, advertisements and employment documentation all within their collection.
The Holden Manufacturing Heritage Centre is located at the old Elizabeth plant and is run exclusively by volunteers, many of whom are past Holden employees. Open by appointment only, the centre provides tours to car clubs and other interested groups, and does much behind-the-scenes work to capture the history of South Australia's Holden employees.
These organisations don't only preserve the vehicles and their mechanical feats, but also the history of the people and places where Holden left its impact.
On the road
From individuals restoring old Holden FCs to groups who take their Toranas out for a weekend cruise, many enthusiasts are keeping the Holden spirit alive. Car clubs are a popular way to connect vehicle owners or collectors, and popular rallies like the Bay to Birdwood showcase Holdens to old and new audiences.
Videos courtesy of the History Trust of South Australia.
Holden through music
When General Motors announced the end of the Holden brand, various songwriters channeled their feelings through their music. In 2017, Australian band Simply Bushed released an ode to the company and its iconic vehicles, followed by Adam Harvey in 2019. Most prominently, Jimmy Barnes, a Scottish emigrant whose family settled in Elizabeth, narrated the closure of the last plant in his 2019 song ‘Shutting Down Our Town’.
Stills from Emotion Is Dead (2024). Courtesy Pete Williams.
Stills from Emotion Is Dead (2024). Courtesy Pete Williams.
Holden on screen
As Holden's on-road presence grew, so did its prevalence within Australian screen culture. Throughout the latter part of the 20th century, the Holden car was featured as a character, alluding to the pride place of the Holden in suburban, working-class family life. Many films and television shows had Holdens at their fore, including The FJ Holden (1977), Kingswood Country (1980-1984), and The Castle (1997), as did documentaries and newscasts.
The broader Holden story continues to be told through film and documentary. The 2023 documentary Ford v Holden chronicles the legendary rivalry between the two Australian car manufacturers. South Australian indie feature Emotion is Dead (2024) explores the life of a young teenager as his family navigate the closure of the Elizabeth Holden plant. The Holden FC is also disguised as an iconic Sydney landmark in the credits for Pixar's Cars 2 (2011) - see if you can spot it next time!
Artistic interpretations of Holden
Photographs, paintings, and illustrations of Holden cars, plants, and ex-employees also tell the Holden story through a visual medium. The iconic imagery of the vehicles in particular make these pieces a popular option for display in galleries, businesses, and personal homes.
In Elizabeth City Centre, Holden's large impact is commemorated in an equally large way - with a mural on the side of the shopping centre. This feature was painted by artist Cam Scale and designed with former Holden workers.
Photographer Eric Algra also captured this impact in his project This is Our Town. This series of photographs document 'Elizabetheans' before, during, and after the closure of the Holden plant, and represent the
Holden has also provided inspiration for other types of artwork. In the 1970s, Australian artist Margaret Dodd was inspired by the Holden FX for her feminist series, This Woman is Not a Car. The series - which includes a film and personified ceramic Holden sculptures - uses the symbol of the car to explore Australian perceptions of gender identity. Dodd continued to incorporate the FX within her work; her cement sculpture The Fossil still sits in the grounds of the National Motor Museum, Birdwood, where it was built in 2001-02.
Holden mural by Cam Scale. Image courtesy City of Playford.
Holden mural by Cam Scale. Image courtesy City of Playford.
Photographs from 'This Is Our Town'. Images courtesy Eric Algra.
Photographs from 'This Is Our Town'. Images courtesy Eric Algra.
Lots of us have Holden stories – what’s yours?
Whether your family worked for Holden, you lived near a factory, or you took your first date out for ice-cream in a Kingswood... we want to know about Holden and you.
Share your memory in the comments below.
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