Holden back the tears
NICK DALTON
He led her to the Equinox and the deal was sealed.
In a special photo session she was captured in an identical frame to a photo of the first Holden delivered in Cairns in 1949 – a Holden 48-215, or the FX – by Richard and David Ireland’s grandfather Francis.
Soon the signs will be coming down and Richard Ireland is inviting Holden enthusiasts to take photos of their pride and joy in front of the Mulgrave Road showroom.
“There has been interest from Holden car clubs and the best time to get uninterrupted shots would be on Saturday afternoon or Sunday,” he said.
Mr Ireland said it was a sad day after a long and historic association with the brand which once was one of the top sellers in Australia.
“Back in the ’80s we were selling 100 a month, including rentals,” he said.
“At a guess, we have sold between 80,000 and 100,000 Holdens.”
Mr Ireland said the Holdens that were “big” in their heyday included Commodore, Torana and HQ.
“My favourite was probably the later model Monaros,” he said.
Mr Ireland said the business had retained a 48-215 FX, an FJ ute, an HQ and a Monaro as historic reminders.
Now the brothers are considering options for the relatively new Holden showroom.
“It will probably be for multi-franchises. We will be moving things around,” Mr Ireland said.
Irelands also sell Mitsubishi, Jeep, Chrysler, RAM, Fiat and Alfa Romeo brands.
PETE MARTINELLI
ROCK groynes have been finished at Holloways Beach to combat the erosion that has carved and washed swathes of sand out to the Coral Sea.
Holloways Beach has suffered steady erosion events since the 1950s and king tides in March toppled 20 mature trees along the foreshore.
At the time, Holloways Beach Environmental Education Centre’s outdoor education teacher John Woolcock said he had not seen erosion so severe since starting work at the centre in 2015.
The construction of the two 30m rock groynes, which began in July, was intended to improve the beach amenity and provide long-term protection of the foreshore.
The project followed years of council investment in sand replenishment; money that had literally washed out to sea.
A November 2018 report submitted to Cairns Regional Council cited a net erosion at Holloways Beach of 82,000 cubic metres.
He said a new brand was under consideration as well the new GMSV franchise which replaces HSV.
Mr Ireland said a compensation deal had been finalised with Holden and Irelands would be a service and parts dealer for at least the next five years.
Holden announced in February this year that it was pulling out of Australia.
The business was founded in Australia in 1856. editorial@