Death of Holden, The: The End of an Australian Dream

When Holden signalled that it would close its Adelaide factory, it struck at the very heart of Australian identity. Holden is our car made on our shores. It’s the choice of patriotic rev heads and suburban drivers alike. How could a car that was so beloved – and so popular – be so unprofitable to make?

The story of the collapse of Holden is about the people who make and drive the cars; it’s about sustaining industry in Australia; it’s about communities of workers and what happens when the work dries up. And if it’s not quite about the death of an icon – because Holdens will remain on Australian roads for a long time to come – then it’s about what happens when an icon falls to its knees in front of a whole nation. pp. 336 #1119 / 110122

Holden is one of the few brands that has an emotional grip on Australia (Qantas being another). The closure of the Holden factory in Adelaide is not just the end of a business – it’s the end of an era, of a story, and of a great Australian dream. When Holden signalled that it would close its Adelaide factory, it struck at the very heart of Australian identity. Holden is our car made on our shores. It’s the choice of patriotic rev heads and suburban drivers alike. How could a car that was so beloved – and so popular – be so unprofitable to make? The story of the collapse of Holden is about the people who make and drive the cars; it’s about sustaining industry in Australia; it’s about communities of workers and what happens when the work dries up. And if it’s not quite about the death of an icon – because Holdens will remain on Australian roads for a long time to come – then it’s about what happens when an icon falls to knees in front of a whole nation. ‘Brilliant and powerful’ Nick Xenophon.