Holden Retirees Club

Fishermens Bend (Melbourne)

1936 - 2020  

Fishermens Bend – a Short history. 

On the edge of the Victoria Golf Course the ducks flapped lazily over swamp. It was a site called Fishermens Bend. The 50 acre site was Crown Land, and GMH offered the Government £500 an acre to purchase it. 

This was deemed to be too low by the Ministry, who asked £1,000 per acre. GMH responded with veiled threats that if they could not get the land for a new headquarters and Plant, they would have to move it all to South Australia with subsequent loss of jobs in Victoria. They needed to get out of their City Road premises, as they were draughty, rat ridden and prone to flooding.

After considerable negotiation and following a meeting of the State Cabinet on 25th June 1935, the Premier (Mr. Dunstan) announced that it had been decided to sell 50 acres of Crown land at Fisherman's Bend to General Motors-Holdens Ltd. for £40,000. Mr. Dunstan said that the sale would be subject to ratification by Parliament, and a bill would be introduced later embodying the conditions agreed upon. He thought that it was highly desirable that encouragement should be given to large enterprises like General Motors-Holdens Ltd.

The area which it had been decided to sell was very suitable for industrial purposes. It was an excellent site and the company deserved every success. Much employment would be provided by the company, and much money would be spent by it. It was indeed encouraging at a time like the present that companies such as General Motors-Holdens Ltd were showing such faith in the future. Their enterprise would be of great benefit to the City of Melbourne and to the State. (Argus, 26 June 1935).

The announcement was received with satisfaction by the directors who said that the erection of the new plant would be begun within two months. The special act of parliament that was needed to enable the sale was passed, so it was on 11 October 1935 that the land was finally purchased by GMH.

The Grant included eight specific conditions that GMH had to meet:

- Work had to commence within one month of the date of the Grant to erect buildings for the purposes of automobile manufacture. Furthermore, within two years, GMH had to expend Two Hundred Thousand Pounds (equivalent to $20.5 Million in 2021) on buildings and infrastructure, with at least One Hundred Thousand Pounds to be spent in the first year.

- In the two year period, GMH would complete all buildings necessary to build automobiles, and in accordance with the approved plans.

- At the request of the Minister, GMH would provide certified statements of the value of all works and materials completed or purchased up to that date.

- All materials or machinery purchased would be firstly from Victorian manufacturers, secondly from elsewhere in the Commonwealth of Australia, and thirdly, from British Empire suppliers.

- The company would obey all lawful requirements of municipal and public authorities.

- No sand is to be removed from the site without prior permission of the Minister, except that sand may be removed as necessary in the construction of buildings.

- The Company will not sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any of the property in the next ten years without Ministerial approval.

- Should the Company fail to meet any of the conditions, the Crown reserved the right to enter the premises and remove the Company without compensation.

By 30 January 1936, the first concrete was poured by M.D.  L. J. Hartnett, by 11 February the first steel columns stood erect, and on 23 February 1936, the Victorian Premier, Mr Albert Dunstan poured the Official first concrete and laid the Foundation stone.

The site was initially built to house a head office, assembly plant and warehouse to service Victorian and Tasmanian operations. The architect was Eric Gibson, a GMH employee working under Norm Pointer of the Mechanical Manufacturing section. Engineering Design and construction was by the GMH Construction Department in consultation with GM Detroit. Overall authority was John Storey, Director of Manufacturing.

The Administration and Supply buildings were pre-stressed concrete and had concealed hot water ceiling heating panels and special solar reflecting glass on the east side. It featured an Executive Dining Room, a canteen for the staff, and a large showroom on the north-west corner of the Administration building with a raised turntable to show off the vehicles from all angles.  The main factory was then one of the largest single story buildings in Australia at 329,580 square feet.

The building went up in an astonishingly quick time and all staff and operations soon transferred from City Road. The changeover was effected quickly and efficiently, and coincidentally enough, the first ship to unload cargo for GMH, the "Port Fremantle", pulled into the G.M.H. wharf on September 21^st, the date of the opening of the offices and Plant. The roadways were still being constructed on the eastern and northern boundaries, but it was anticipated that these would be ready for the big flow of traffic on the official opening day.

There were nearly 2000 guests at the Opening, which was preceded by a Grand Carnival Ball at the Melbourne Town Hall on the evening of Wednesday, 4 November.

The plant was officially opened by Prime Minister, Mr J.A. Lyons on 5 November 1936. The plant was the largest addition to Australian manufacturing for many years and cost £450,000.

Mr. Lyons said that he believed wholeheartedly in the establishment of large scale industries in Australia. "There is nothing that Australians cannot attempt and nothing that they will fail to do once they have made up their minds," he said.”

However, the first completed cars had come off the Fishermens Bend lines shortly after mid-day on 28 September 1936. The first vehicle was an Oldsmobile, driven off-line by John Storey, with L. J. Hartnett in the passenger seat.

The Plant could produce up to 100 cars a day on a travelling chain 450ft. long, which moved at speeds variable up to 8ft. a minute.

Fishermens Bend was now the head office of General Motors-Holden’s Ltd. with Chevrolets, Vauxhalls and other General Motors cars now being assembled at the facility.

In 1939/40, Plant 3 was built to house the Engineering design and testing work.

In the offices at their new Headquarters, Holden executives began to have ambitious discussions on the possible manufacture of a complete car within Australia.

However, all plans were put on hold with the outbreak of World War II. Car production was delayed as efforts instead focused on the construction of vehicle bodies, field guns, aircraft and engines.

In 1940 a new foundry and engine plant, considered crucial to the war effort, were built at Fishermens Bend. Holden came of age during World War II with a large increase in manufacturing capacity.

In December 1945, the iconic Social Centre was opened, and was later used for the release of the 48-215 Holden.

In 1945 design work on a car based on a 1930s GM concept prototype began in Detroit. Preparations for manufacture at Fishermens Bend included expansion of existing operations and the addition of a new plant to manufacture engines and components. The foundry and machine shop facilities, which had been used to make aircraft engines during World War II, were expanded to make what became known as the “grey” motor which would power the new car: the 48-215.

However, GMH had a major problem in all states.  The ex-employee men returning from the war, coupled with the loss of war production with nothing to replace it, meant that they had many men surplus to requirements. Some were released at the request of the Government to work in other essential industries which were undermanned; innovative ways had to be found to manufacture a number of non-automotive items to keep the work force employed.  An amazing variety of items produced included such things as a range of kitchen cupboards for Myer, an aluminum caravan, box trailers, golf club heads, parts for audio speakers, filing cabinets, fruit boxes and children’s toys.

Finally, in 1946, Holden had reconfigured the plants, obtained supply of parts and recommenced car production with Vauxhall assembly; and before year’s end, Chevrolets, Buicks and Pontiacs also came on stream.

Meanwhile the New Australian Car was being developed. A working concept vehicle showing Holden’s preferred Project 2008—body styling only, not engineering design—had been completed in 1945. The styling was rejected by GM, who developed their own design and styling for the car with some input from engineers at Fishermens Bend and Woodville. Holden engineers were sent from Fishermens Bend to GM headquarters in Detroit, Michigan, with their styling models, drawings and engineering ideas.

They started work on the US design proposal and received instruction on setting up the manufacturing operation. GM used their considerable muscle in dealing with US based equipment suppliers to assist GMH to obtain the required machinery for modern vehicle production, which was still in very short supply after the war.

The joint team in Detroit produced three hand-made working prototypes. Surprisingly, all three cars were transported to Fishermens Bend on the one ship, accompanied by the Australian arm of the design team and US technicians.

The Detroit-built Holden prototypes were extensively tested on an 86 mile loop to Emerald in the Dandenongs and back via rough dirt roads outside Melbourne. This resulted in modifications to steering, suspension and other components. Plans were then laid for series production of the Holden and for an official public launch by the Prime Mister, Ben Chifley, at Fishermens Bend.

Most of the major mechanical parts including engines, rear axles, front suspension and gear boxes were made in the Fishermens Bend plant, while the bodies were pressed and assembled at Woodville and shipped to Fishermens Bend for Vehicle assembly.

On 29 November 1948, “Australia’s Own Car” made its first appearance at a meticulously planned launch held at General Motors-Holden’s Fishermens Bend Headquarters. National public interest in the release of “the car made in Australia, for Australia” was running at fever pitch.

Enthusiasm was so great that Holden dealers held more than 18,000 advance orders from consumers who had never even seen what the car looked like.

More than 1000 VIP guests attended the announcement ceremony at Fishermens Bend and 44 radio stations nationwide broadcast the proceedings, including the words of Prime Minister Chifley, “It’s a Beauty!”

The Melbourne Herald that day described the Holden’s debut as “A Hollywood-style premiere, complete with distinguished guests and newsreel cameras whirring”. Summing up, the Melbourne Argus reported: “it was a great and comforting party.”

The car was an immediate success. The 10,000^th Holden was produced at Fishermens Bend in February 1950 with bodies produced in Woodville, South Australia; the 100,000^th in May 1953. When production reached 20,000 vehicles per year, GMH still had 50,000 orders outstanding.

Assembly at Fishermens Bend came to an end in 1956 as the manufacturing and final assembly of vehicles were transferred to the new body and assembly plant at Dandenong. Manufacturing now concentrated solely on production and assembly of Holden engines, transmissions and mechanical components.

Holden’s Head Office at Fishermens Bend accommodated  Management, Finance, Supply, Manufacturing, Sales and Service, Non-Vehicle Products, Personnel Relations, Public Relations and the Engineering Department responsible for the Styling, Experimental Production and road and laboratory testing of all Holden vehicle products and components.

The rising demand and the drive for new methods and efficiencies meant that new facilities and equipment was frequently being added to the Fishermens Bend site.

In January 1961, GMH leased an additional 36 acres of Crown Land adjacent to their existing property to bring the total area to 86 acres.  It was mostly swamp land, but GMH said they would soon commence to construct a new manufacturing plant on the site.

This was a new, fully mechanized Grey Iron Foundry, which was opened in March 1965 with MD David Hegland conducting the first metal pour, and began volume production in April. The project started in November 1963, when the first foundation drilling began. All stages of the building works were carried out on reclaimed swamp land. The 135,000 sq. ft. foundry was capable of pouring 240 tons of grey iron each day and increased casting production as part of a programme to increase Holden production to 200,000 vehicles a year by 1966. It supplemented the existing Grey Iron Foundry, which normally poured about 160 tons a day and produced the Holden cylinder blocks and allied castings.

At the same time, a new Engine Plant was constructed to accommodate the six cylinder ‘Red’ engine, which was released with the EH model Holden in August 1963. It later went through various upgrades usually known by the engine colour – Red, Blue, Black, and a four cylinder variant, the Starfire.

The 10 June 1964 witnessed the official opening of the much-anticipated Technical Centre at Fishermens Bend.  The Technical Centre was the only one of its type in Australia and incorporated facilities for in-depth research, product design, engineering and testing. The GMH Styling department located within the Technical Centre developed the form, colour and character of every visible part, while the Technical Centre also housed highly sophisticated equipment required by the 700 designers, engineers, technicians, draftsmen and craftsmen for designing and building prototype Holdens.

At first, highly stressed engine parts such as the crankshaft needed to be forged as normal steel casting was too brittle for this use.  Forging was time consuming and therefore expensive.  However, a new foundry technique of casting Iron allowed high strength castings to be made, obviating the need for forging before machining. This was called Nodular Iron.

In 1965 Holden started construction of a Nodular Iron Foundry (the only one in Australia), which was opened on 10 February 1967 by Prime Minister, Harold Holt. This not only allowed crankshafts for the Red engine and front wheel hubs to be cast instead of forged but also created an expanding export activity with nodular Iron castings being shipped to Opel and Vauxhall. Exports to these customers already included Torque Converters and Hydraulic valve lifters from Elizabeth and Dandenong.

A new V8 engine Plant followed and was opened on 7 July 1969 by the Prime Minister, William McMahon. This manufactured the GMH designed 253 and 308 Cubic inch V8 engines. The V8 engine would stay in production on various forms and upgrades until replaced by an imported GM engine in 1999.

1981 saw the opening of the $400 million dollar, Family II engine facility, one of the most technologically advanced operations of its type in the world which employed a workforce of 2,700 in the manufacture of engines for both local and overseas markets.

In 1987 a record 234,000 Family II engines were built, generating export sales of $245 Million, or more than $1Million dollars each working day. Over 80 percent of the company's output was exported to worldwide markets which included the United Kingdom, West Germany, the United States, Korea and Thailand. By July 1999, 3 million Family II engines had been exported.

A Buick 3.8 litre petrol V6 “Ecotec” engine made its debut in 1995 and remained in use until 2004, when it was replaced with an updated ‘Alloytec’ version with higher power and better fuel economy.

The Holden Engine Operations “High Feature V6” (HFV6) Plant, was opened in 2003 to exclusively build the V6 in 32 different configurations for a myriad of General Motors vehicles. The one-million milestone was reached in early 2014.

With the announcement of the cessation of vehicle manufacture in Australia, engine manufacture ended on 29 November, 2016 — 68 years to the day since the 48-215 had made its debut on the motoring stage. A total of 1,137,282 engines had been built since 2003, with just under 700,000 used to powered Commodore variants while 437,436 were exported overseas.

In total, Holden made more than 10 million engines in Port Melbourne since full-scale engine manufacturing began in 1948.

In December 2013, Holden announced the cessation of manufacturing in Australia to take effect in 2017, in favour of importing and selling badged variants of overseas sourced models. The Fishermens Bend site would be sold off piecemeal in a campaign starting in July 2015, with possibly a smaller area retained to house the continuing activities.

In the event, the whole site was sold to the Victorian Government for $130 million in September 2016.

“The government will set up an innovation and employment centre on the site with the support of Melbourne's major universities.

As part of the deal, Holden would lease its engine plant on Todd Road until the end of the year and maintain its corporate headquarters, a design studio and engineering office with up to 1000 employees in Salmon Street.

"Our headquarters, including Holden's advanced international design studios and engineering facilities, will remain at Fishermens Bend for years to come," Holden said.”

The sounding of the end-of-shift siren at the Holden Vehicle Operations plant at the Elizabeth Assembly Plant on Friday, 20 October 2017 meant the closure of the factory, and the end of car manufacturing in this country.

However, the imported Holden badged variants did not sell up to expectations, and with monthly declining market share, it became unviable for Holden to remain in business.

In February 2020, GMH announced that it was quitting Australia entirely. Almost all employees would be quit by the end of June 2020, and only a relatively small number for Service and Spare Parts (based at Dandenong) would remain.

GMH has now vacated Fishermens Bend completely.

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