What happened to the Brisbane Holden plant?

[DJ Majah]

I know there used to be a Holden plant over Acacia Ridge/Sunnybank way. I've been to where I think the site used to be, theres a bunch of roads backing a huge paddock, and all the roads are named after Holdens. Commodore Dr, etc.

The plant closed in 1984 I believe and there used to be one in every capital city.

So I was just wondering if anyone had any specific info on the Brisbane plant, it's good history that is rarely mentioned now.

Nial

[Smitty]

I know there used to be a Holden plant over Acacia Ridge/Sunnybank way. I've been to where I think the site used to be, theres a bunch of roads backing a huge paddock, and all the roads are named after Holdens. Commodore Dr, etc.
The plant closed in 1984 I believe and there used to be one in every capital city. So I was just wondering if anyone had any specific info on the Brisbane plant, it's good history that is rarely mentioned now.
Nial

interesting....
I was one of the team at GMH (as it was) that recommended that first
Pagewood be shut ..
and then Acacia Ridge.
Just doing the job, to try and keep GMH afloat...they lost $3/4 BILLION in 3 years in the mid 80's, so we had to do something...otherwise there would be no Holden..no HSV as we know it today.
Thinking......
somewhere, someplace I have a Plant visitors guide to Acacia Ridge
at home...along with all my ol' GMH stuff...build lists etc
will try and find it and post it on the site

the other GMH sites that got shut were ...
Perth (Perth???? yep...built CKD trucks there)
Birkenhead in SA (look that up..thats for the GMH history fans)
Disco in Melbourne (Disco..was AC predecessor and was where the training building in Williamstown rd now is in Melbourne)
Pagewood...gone
and eventually Dandenong....
Woodville too..only Elizabeth left......


hth
cheers

[VL Executive]

As far as I know they used to make Gemini's at the Acacia ridge plant. I dont think any Commodores where manufactured there tho.

As for the Dandanong plant It think it stayed open till 1988 as the last Commodores built there where the VL's.

[Smitty]

well...found it.....
sifting thru 25 years of stuff....but I got it...see post
the plant was in Beaudesert rd Acacia Ridge....

[DJ Majah]

Thats awesome info VXIISSM6er, thanks a heap!

I've just had a look around the net and I cant find any details of the estate, it's like it doesnt exist, but Ive been there, so on my way home one day soon I might take some photos.

I heard they also made Sandmans there and one of the streets is Kingswood...so draw a conclusion.

Why didn't they teach me this is modern history at school?!

[Gobbles]

Because apparently world history is more important

[mixin]

As far as I know they used to make Gemini's at the Acacia ridge plant. I dont think any Commodores where manufactured there tho.

As for the Dandanong plant It think it stayed open till 1988 as the last Commodores built there where the VL's.

Commodores were made at Acacia Ridge up until the end of the VH. I seem to recall Commodorenut's project is a Brisbane assembled VH SL/E from late '83.

WB Commercials also came out of there.

The body tag of those cars has a H for the plant code where an Adelaide car has an L & a Melborne car has a J.

The Body number on the build plate & also the VIN/chassis number both end in B (for Brisbane).

Yes, VLs were the last vehicles to be manufactured at Dandenong. I was there in June '88 as it was being ripped apart.

[Bek31]

thats so interesting. i never knew that there was a holden plant, although i would be too young to remember one anyways. they shoulda taught us about it at school and so many people would have actually listened! hehe. i did a search on the net, but there is nothing i could find about it thanks for the info guys! too bad they closed it

[Astranomical]

Commodores were made at Acacia Ridge up until the end of the VH. I seem to recall Commodorenut's project is a Brisbane assembled VH SL/E from late '83.

WB Commercials also came out of there.

The body tag of those cars has a H for the plant code where an Adelaide car has an L & a Melborne car has a J.

The Body number on the build plate & also the VIN/chassis number both end in B (for Brisbane).

Yes, VLs were the last vehicles to be manufactured at Dandenong. I was there in June '88 as it was being ripped apart.

Interesting. I'll have to check our 1982 WB 'tunner to see where it was made.

[Wombat]

I remember the news items on TV from the day they shut the plant where they made Geminis down there. I recall it vividly because the cameras were right outside the gate and there was an endless stream of Geminis of all descriptions coming out with workers on thier last day...there were panel vans, coupes, four doors, wagons, whatever, all in various states of tune...standard, mags, nice paint, etc.
Must have got a discount or something.

A friend went to Germany a few years back and was staying with his uncle in the city where Mercedes Benz's are made (Stuttgart? God, the memory doesn't get any better does it... :b: ), and he was amazed that everything from taxis to family cars were all Benz's. Over there they are just another car, nothing out of the ordinary until you start getting up to the real expensive ones.
He also went on a plant tour, and found the workers car lot FULL of Benz's as well. They said workers got a massive discount, something like 50%, but had to sign a contract saying they would keep the car for at least 2 years, so they couldn't turn a business on the side by constantly buying them with thier "staff discounts" and then selling them to the public.

[mixin]

Here's an item of interest for those near Dandenong:

After they stopped making VLs there in '88 - they decommissioned the line, toyota used the facility as part of the GMH/toyota joint venture (go the lexcen!) and then toyota proceeded to assemble Corollas (also Holden Novas) there until the Altona Plant was up & running & could handle camrys & corollas!

[Jaime]

The Acacia Ridge plant closed in 1985, according to "Holden History", by Tony Davis, Ewan Kennedy and Alistair Kennedy.

The last models to be built there were;

TG Gemini
JB Camira
VH Commodore
WB Statesman
WB Ute/One Tonner/Panel Van

Pagewood closed in 1980 (I'd like 5 minutes with the bastard who made that call!) the last models to be built there were;

TD Gemini
UC Torana/Sunbird
VB Commodore
HZ Kingswood/Premier/GTS
HZ Statesman
HZ Ute/One Tonner/Panel Van
HZ Sandman

Dandenong closed in 1988 (I think it was '88). Last models were;

RB Gemini
JE Camira
VL Commodore

That's my contribution.

Note: The last of models built at those factories are my guesses, not views expressed in the book.

Cheers.

[PIMPIN]

Pagewood closed in 1980 (I'd like 5 minutes with the bastard who made that call!)

interesting....
I was one of the team at GMH (as it was) that recommended that first
Pagewood be shut ..
and then Acacia Ridge.
Just doing the job, to try and keep GMH afloat...they lost $3/4 BILLION in 3 years in the mid 80's, so we had to do something...otherwise there would be no Holden..no HSV as we know it today.

Here you go Jaime, if you had read the rest of the thread, you would've have found this...Now, as 15 yr old with an extensive knowledge of budgets, P & Ls, and senior/executive management, tell him what they did wrong...

[mixin]

And please explain why my mate has a Sydney (Pagewood) assembled VC if the VB was the last commodore made there?


The Dandenong plant, well that's a story in itself. Holden still had cars assembled there after 1988. What the... you say? Well Novas were assembled there well into the 90s. As you probably won't believe me, look hard for the info & you will find it.

As I mentioned in my post above, Holden still owned the plant, and as part of the Button plan (do a Google search for SENATOR JOHN BUTTON - you may actually learn something about the car industry in Australia) Holden & Toyota did a deal that not only say Lexcens, Novas, Apollos & other odd crossover badge engineered models, but it also meant the Holden had an empty plant, Toyota needed space, and as part of the deal, Dandenong actually remained in operation until Toyota's plant at Altona was up & running. You'll find that Corollas & Novas well into the 90's were assembled there.

Hmmm, maybe you should stick to forming your own opinions on topics from after you were born?

[mixin]

Look a little harder & you'll find the VL line closed in '88, but the JE camira line continued into 1989......

[Smitty]

And please explain why my mate has a Sydney (Pagewood) assembled VC if the VB was the last commodore made there?

VC was made at Pagewood....
from memory..one of the 'million' Holdens..a VC SL/E
was made there (think it was the 4 millionth!)

oh
and let me tell you.....
the workings in closing sumfing like a car plant...
are pretty convaluted and involved.....
why?
you have to deal with the $..yep..us accountants do that
but also
unions...and suppliers and customers
and...smartarse politicians....
and also don't forget...fellow employees
but
Pagewood and Acacia Ridge ..did not have futures
when Holden was losing $250 MILLION a YEAR
and
in the end...despite all the crap that went on with Toyota
neither did Dandenong....


cheers

[VL Executive]

First Built 1964, Closed in 1985. Really Acacia ridge didnt last that long. Only 21 years.

It would be interesting to find some photos of the plant in operation. Like some pics of the plant from the outside, etc

[Astranomical]

I agree, VL. That'd be awesome, considering that they closed the plant at about the time i was born. :b:

[devilsman60]

I remember the old Acacia Ridge factory, did several tours with the staff there when the Gemini was in production early 80's. However can anyone shed light on the even older Holden Plant in Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley? It was closed and used up as stores/workshops until about 10 years ago I think. Now the site has the Audi, Fiat, Alfa dealerships there. It was opposite the old bus depot and just down the road from Elphinstones (Automotive Parts) warehouse and office.

[ClairBear]

Mate, this thread is over 6 years old.

[Darcon666]

BWAHahahahahahahahahahahahah.... School Holidays are so much fun.

[acarmody]

Is 6 years a new record?

[Reaper]

yet an interesting thread that I'd never read before. Devil's post was relevant and asked for something that would further contribute to the thread. I remember fondly watching VL's getting built at Dandenong in the mid 80's and going back there to HSPO in 2000 working on the VU Ute project.

Reaper.

[calais24/7]

School holidays? LOL. Read the post man he said he toured a factory in the 80's So i'd say he is well past schooling age And reaper i also found it pretty interesting to have a read through.

[Dayvo]

The Acacia Ridge plant closed in 1985, according to "Holden History", by Tony Davis, Ewan Kennedy and Alistair Kennedy.

The last models to be built there were;

TG Gemini
JB Camira
VH Commodore
WB Statesman
WB Ute/One Tonner/Panel Van

Pagewood closed in 1980 (I'd like 5 minutes with the bastard who made that call!) the last models to be built there were;

TD Gemini
UC Torana/Sunbird
VB Commodore
HZ Kingswood/Premier/GTS
HZ Statesman
HZ Ute/One Tonner/Panel Van
HZ Sandman

Dandenong closed in 1988 (I think it was '88). Last models were;

RB Gemini
JE Camira
VL Commodore

That's my contribution.

Note: The last of models built at those factories are my guesses, not views expressed in the book.

Cheers.

I worked at the Dandenong plant from 1975 to 1988 as a MIG welder ,Lead wiper and Panel finisher. They built the LX - LH Toranas The UC sunbird and the Commodore from VB through to VL but i don't recall the Gemini ever being built there . There were HZ series ute shells that were shipped down from Pagewood that were put on the production line then fitted out .