Drive-by tribute for the last lion
THE last car has rolled off the production line in Holden’s Elizabeth factory in Adelaide.
The red Commodore came off the line shortly after noon yesterday.
Hundreds of Holden workers past and present were on hand to witness the end of production before boarding buses to Adelaide Oval for a celebration.
Earlier, more than 1000 Holden fans pulled up outside the factory, many driving some of the manufacturer’s most iconic models, in tribute to the lion’s history.
Malcolm Turnbull said he was emotional about Holden’s closure.
“I feel very sad as we all do. It’s the end of an era. You can’t get away from the emotional response to the closure,” the Prime Minister said.
Asked by 3AW host Neil Mitchell if the government
“had blood on its hands” and could have saved Holden, the PM referred to comments made by Holden boss Mike Devereux when he cited a range of economic factors
affecting the carmaker.
Holden began making cars in Port Melbourne in 1948 but the Elizabeth facility didn’t open until 1958. Holden factories at other sites in
NSW, Queensland and Victoria followed before they too were shut.
In the end, Holden built 7.6 million cars in Australia.