Holden plant been closed for a year

[Micks]

Hard to believe GM has been closed a year now. Here are some pics of the last few months before the closure.


https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44254567_10155491405431012_2886211726489944064_o.j pg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_ht=scontent-syd2-1.xx&oh=9825a7f0c7aae615b4bd36f75df7e7a0&oe=5C47B271


https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44339303_10155491405361012_7121065607948140544_o.j pg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_ht=scontent-syd2-1.xx&oh=e34f08174c8f67c056f2a9ed8c627e13&oe=5C5021E8


https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44258702_10155491405336012_3935940396927942656_o.j pg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_ht=scontent-syd2-1.xx&oh=f6a25d9a1870e3ad636ea40f2cd38c4a&oe=5C4FC9CF


https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44319781_10155491405616012_2018689982658510848_o.j pg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_ht=scontent-syd2-1.xx&oh=a224d785ad280a8debfb80553571d031&oe=5C40B6EA


https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44306935_10155491405721012_205654097968234496_o.jp g?_nc_cat=100&_nc_ht=scontent-syd2-1.xx&oh=f7160abed2e4806723772d20fef8a4e9&oe=5C427412


https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44269428_10155491405751012_6086553396754513920_o.j pg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_ht=scontent-syd2-1.xx&oh=0537764777c3c03ac49706d98fdf1358&oe=5C441905


https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44347872_10155491405901012_5349827241175941120_o.j pg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_ht=scontent-syd2-1.xx&oh=dcae401e22d5ae8e56575c8b972f9726&oe=5C54E58D


https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44455875_10155491406001012_6677090706802081792_o.j pg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_ht=scontent-syd2-1.xx&oh=2b5bb075591c03ad539be2c06719132c&oe=5C895024


https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44318103_10155491406036012_8921404980900921344_o.j pg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_ht=scontent-syd2-1.xx&oh=a33c841967cfc6325cb99a0d3a20496f&oe=5C4E11F5


https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44331995_10155491406086012_5630953492311965696_o.j pg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_ht=scontent-syd2-1.xx&oh=8ae96615a437f31a576e3ff637898021&oe=5C48C9E4


https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44471442_10155491406196012_3546865773509083136_o.j pg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_ht=scontent-syd2-1.xx&oh=4f96bd35e1146ad65bdbeace0b050a92&oe=5C882B07


https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44298339_10155491406251012_6726617091383754752_o.j pg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ht=scontent-syd2-1.xx&oh=591f52beaad33798b83945b513f61a38&oe=5C50BA5D


https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44283493_10155491406301012_7822622849025179648_o.j pg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent-syd2-1.xx&oh=75209c2f0627419c7bb14d5093371182&oe=5C5B3D57


https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44346310_10155491406351012_188621507507781632_o.jp g?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent-syd2-1.xx&oh=aaabfddabc451f00244b2cf182df1763&oe=5C57FB59


https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44254567_10155491405431012_2886211726489944064_o.j pg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_ht=scontent-syd2-1.xx&oh=9825a7f0c7aae615b4bd36f75df7e7a0&oe=5C47B271


https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44339303_10155491405361012_7121065607948140544_o.j pg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_ht=scontent-syd2-1.xx&oh=e34f08174c8f67c056f2a9ed8c627e13&oe=5C5021E8


https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44258702_10155491405336012_3935940396927942656_o.j pg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_ht=scontent-syd2-1.xx&oh=f6a25d9a1870e3ad636ea40f2cd38c4a&oe=5C4FC9CF


https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44319781_10155491405616012_2018689982658510848_o.j pg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_ht=scontent-syd2-1.xx&oh=a224d785ad280a8debfb80553571d031&oe=5C40B6EA


https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44306935_10155491405721012_205654097968234496_o.jp g?_nc_cat=100&_nc_ht=scontent-syd2-1.xx&oh=f7160abed2e4806723772d20fef8a4e9&oe=5C427412

[whitels1ss]

I still can't get my mind around how much good things we have lost in this country over the past few years.


RIP the "Australia" we knew & so loved. :bawl:

[BLACK 346]

I still can't get my mind around how much good things we have lost in this country over the past few years.


RIP the "Australia" we knew & so loved. :bawl:

Used to love this country and when I was away for long periods I could not wait to get back to it. Not the same country any more, and it only looks like it going to go further down hill :(

[Boofa]

I knew that plant well. Makes me sad seeing these pictures.

[Micks]

Here's some more though pics in colour.


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[Pickles]

Unreal Pics mate.
Thanks, Martin.

[Micks]

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[Boofa]

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Wow. Haven't seen Bob in years. Used to deal with him a lot.

[Micks]

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[Micks]

Unreal Pics mate.
Thanks, Martin.

Thanks Martin
Thought I'd put these up as there will be many people down the track who will never of had the opportunity to build or own an Australian built vehicle.

[Ausmartin1]

Dam.... so very sad looking at the brilliant (back in time) really great car industry.
So few local people achieved so much product with very little money vs GM American management who should hang their head in shame on how they screwed over Australians.

Who knows what could have been had GM and others actually supported Holden properly with a positive export program and chosen a well designed SUV vs the Cruze.
Could have been the RWD Caddilac specialist of Oceania for GM if they would have taken the time to understand what they actually owned and the people they possessed.

[keith reed]

Holden were never going to compete against countries that had a much lower wage structure than Australia did.
I am not a great fan of Donald Trump but I do like the way he is has placed tariff's on countries like China.
I remember hearing that the development of the ve cost I billion dollars. You have to sell an awful lot of cars to
recoup this amount of money. It is not by accident that car companies have set up manufacturing in Asian
countries. General Motors for their part have neglected Australia. It is ridiculous to say that they don't know
how to set up cars for right hand drive. The Australian government have played their part in Holden's demise.
So sad all those workers skills going down the drain.

[Micks]

Is also sad that we now are one of the few Countries in the world that don't produce a Vehicle! Where do we go from here?

[Smitty]

Thanks Martin
Thought I'd put these up as there will be many people down the track who will never of had the opportunity to build or own an Australian built vehicle.

.. or work for an Australian vehicle manufacturer
as
I did when it was GMH and they made Holdens , Geminis and Toranas
and Commodores of course

we are now a long way from the VA Commodore

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y233/smitty1955/Car%20Stuff%20not%20VK/VA%20Commodore_zpsqnvgyjyk.jpg (http://s6.photobucket.com/user/smitty1955/media/Car%20Stuff%20not%20VK/VA%20Commodore_zpsqnvgyjyk.jpg.html)

[Smitty]

Holden were never going to compete against countries that had a much lower wage structure than Australia did.
I am not a great fan of Donald Trump but I do like the way he is has placed tariff's on countries like China.
I remember hearing that the development of the ve cost I billion dollars. You have to sell an awful lot of cars to
recoup this amount of money. It is not by accident that car companies have set up manufacturing in Asian
countries. General Motors for their part have neglected Australia. It is ridiculous to say that they don't know
how to set up cars for right hand drive. The Australian government have played their part in Holden's demise.
So sad all those workers skills going down the drain.

Holden worker's wage levels .. were never an issue (despite what a lot of people think)
with labour never more than about 10% of the cost of GMH building a Commodore
(when manufacture of VB started) and it reducing over time due to increasing automation
by Holden

Car companies have set up manufacturing in Asia .. because the biggest car market
in the world is about to be China (already not far short of the USA market) and by
by having manufacturing plants both in and out of China, they have the best of both
worlds

[keith reed]

Holden worker's wage levels .. were never an issue (despite what a lot of people think)
with labour never more than about 10% of the cost of GMH building a Commodore
(when manufacture of VB started) and it reducing over time due to increasing automation
by Holden

Car companies have set up manufacturing in Asia .. because the biggest car market
in the world is about to be China (already not far short of the USA market) and by
by having manufacturing plants both in and out of China, they have the best of both
worlds

Wages in Asian countries are significantly lower than Australia. Chinese factory workers at paid $27.50 per day. Indonesia $8.60 per day. Vietnamese $6.70. An Australian worker would have been paid more each day for their super. Add to that no OH and S, no or very little union involvement. The standard of living in these countries would be significantly lower than ours.
I remember the time when you would not touch Japanese tools as they were cheap junk. How things have changed. I can buy bare aluminium cylinder heads for my vh that are made in China for $400 each through pro comp as opposed to $1300 from Come racing. The quality is not there but the day will come when it is. I have been in contact with someone who has bought these heads. He has had to have quite a bit of work done to them, he is pleased with them. His total cost is still less for two cylinder heads than one from Edelbrock. Like Japan one day the quality will be there.
Big business will go where ever they can make the most profit with the least hassle. As I previously mentioned I am not a great fan of Donald Trump. If by imposing tariffs on China he is able to reverse this situation then I for one would hope that Australia would follow his example.

[XSNRGY]

Its not the only thing that's disappeared either, although it is the biggest and worst thing to have happened to Aus for sure.
I have been visiting Aus on and off for around twenty years - not for over a year at present though.
In that time the missus and I thought about moving to Melbourne mainly due to HSV but also for the Supercars.
Wow have we seen SO many changes.
First the Warner bros shop disappeared from the casino complex, then the Clayton and other HSV merch shops disappeared, then a bunch of Cafes we frequented went, other shops disappeared, REAL cars disappeared from the Supercars and tubular frames with stick on panels appeared, "V8" was dropped from the V8 Supercars, weird cars started appearing in the Supercars - then disappeared almost overnight, then you lose Holden manufacturing altogether!
What a shit storm.

[CLUBRED]

Was at my dealer yesterday for a service appointment, had a sticky beak at the Camaro and Siverado (gross). Not sure if its because they know me or just over it, but a few comments stood out during conversation, one was I said "Its a shame there's no commodores in your showroom anymore!" Answer, "Yeah, we sold the last 2 a week ago, we have a few ZB's outside, WE'RE HOPING PEOPLE COME AROUND!"... LOL. I also noted how the hell can you see out the front of the Silverado, and the guy said "Yeah, its a joke around the boys it's easier to reverse the thing around!"...

[mjrandom]

Holden worker's wage levels .. were never an issue (despite what a lot of people think)
with labour never more than about 10% of the cost of GMH building a Commodore
(when manufacture of VB started) and it reducing over time due to increasing automation
by Holden

Car companies have set up manufacturing in Asia .. because the biggest car market
in the world is about to be China (already not far short of the USA market) and by
by having manufacturing plants both in and out of China, they have the best of both
worlds

So there was less than 50 hours Holden labour per car?

[motomk]

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What's this robots phone number? I need to speak to it about a spare wheel for my ute!

Very nice pictures, Micks, Thanks for posting.
I was honked by a son of a gun Motorsport Edition in the Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne a few weeks back.

Yay another Magnum!




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AMG Magnum! :)

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/827/27099461147_b97f32a82c_h.jpg