Holden Celebrates 50 Years At Elizabeth Plant

[JoeT]

Holden Marks 50 Years In Adelaide

AAP
8 May 2008
www.drive.com.au

Car maker Holden has celebrated 50 years at its Elizabeth factory in Adelaide by burying a time capsule and paying tribute to the workers and local people behind the company's success.

South Australian Premier Mike Rann and Holden executive director of manufacturing Rod Keane buried the time capsule at the plant on Thursday, 50 years after its construction began in 1958.

"Since the first concrete was poured at this site back in 1958, GM Holden has been proud to play its part in the Elizabeth community," Mr Keane said.

"We're immensely thankful for the commitment to this facility which has been shown by successive generations of employees, over half of whom live within 10 kilometres of the plant.

"We also recognise the contribution of the local community, our suppliers, federal and state governments for their ongoing support of automotive manufacturing in South Australia."

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GM Holden Celebrates 50 Years At Elizabeth

GM Holden
8 May 2008
www.holden.com.au

GM Holden employees and retirees were joined today by the Premier of South Australia, local VIPs and community partners as the company celebrated a half century at its Philip Highway, Elizabeth site.

50 years to the day since the first concrete was poured at the Elizabeth facility on 8 May, 1958, GM Holden Executive Director Rod Keane and the Premier of South Australia, Mike Rann MP buried a time capsule, to be opened at the site's 75th anniversary in 2033.

Included in the time capsule are items including a Holden worker s shirt, emblems and brochures for the cars currently made at Holden Vehicle operations, pictures and other contributions from the local Elizabeth Grove Primary school, a membership badge for Central District Football Club and perennial Aussie favourite, the Holden stubby holder.

School children from Elizabeth Grove Primary school participated in the burial of the time capsule, assisting Rod Keane and the Premier of South Australia, Mike Rann to lower the capsule into the ground before it was later covered with a commemorative plaque.

Rod Keane said the event was an opportunity to recognise the contribution of employees and the local community in GM Holden's success.

Since the first concrete was poured at this site back in 1958, GM Holden has been proud to play its part in the Elizabeth community. We're immensely thankful for the commitment to this facility which has been shown by successive generations of employees, over half of whom live within ten kilometres of the plant.

We also recognise the contribution of the local community, our suppliers, Federal and State Governments for their ongoing support of automotive manufacturing in South Australia.

Holden's milestones for the year extend beyond the 50th celebrations at Elizabeth and the 60th anniversary of the first Holden car, the 48-215.

We have an extraordinary number of key dates to recognise this year including the centennial of General Motors and 30th birthday of the Commodore.

Of particular significance are two of our community partnerships as we celebrate the 20th season as major sponsor of the Central District Football Club and the 40th year supporting Bedford's annual achievement awards.

Established at an initial cost of $10,500,000, the Holden site at Elizabeth started life making hardware components including locks, mufflers, air cleaners, brake drums and mouldings.

Today, Holden Vehicle Operations includes a press shop, highly automated body shop, paint shop and plastics operation as well as a general assembly plant running at its maximum line rate of 620 cars a day. The site currently produces one vehicle every 76 seconds, delivering world class cars around the globe, under brand names including Holden, Vauxhall, Pontiac and Chevrolet.

Over $530 million has been invested in the site since 2000, making the plant one of the most advanced automotive manufacturing facilities in the world. 3,400 highly skilled employees work at Elizabeth in roles including manufacturing engineers, production operators, maintenance technicians and support services.

Later this year, production will begin on the newest addition to the Holden range, the VE Sportwagon for Australian and New Zealand as well as the Pontiac G8 GXP, a high performance car for the US market.

GM Holden in 2008

2008 is a diamond year for GM Holden which will be recognising a number of key anniversaries. These include: the 60th anniversary of Australia's Own Car - the 48-215; the 50th anniversary of the founding of Holden Vehicle Operations at Elizabeth; 40 years since the introduction of Monaro; 30 years of the Commodore nameplate; and the General Motors centennial.

HD Holden production at Elizabeth in 1966

[Slick_Holden]

Big year, Hope big things happen.

Glad to see the back of deny Mooney.


Hard to believe it's been 30 years for the Commodore name plate. We only in 2005 retired our 79 VB Commodore.. ****en great car, It lost in all area's you couldn't find many things that would beat something modern, Ride engine trans etc, But it just had a sole and i loved driving it it made me happy.
I had an attachment with that car, My new cars i don't have these attachments with.
There better in every way, My Berlina has more electrics in it's doors then the old VB had in it's body... But it made my face grin with happiness. Something modern cars lack i think.

[mikmak]

That's part of getting old slick. Everything seems better when you're young. As the years pass, those old "classics" are out classed but the attraction remains, like a one night stand that doesn't get the hint when you tell her the number for Silver Cabs.

HQ was the most honest best car ever made by the way, and pies are waaay too expensive. back in my day you could get a maggot bag WITH dead 'orse and a bag a cobbers for ha'pnny and a hand shake blah blah blah call that music! Bon scott snore zzzzzzz


......what Emma Peel in a cat suit?

[MonaroSS]

Elizabeth is a bland place. The Mitsubishi factory was in a much better part of Adelaide. They were both my customers when I lived there.

Probably a good idea that GM built in such a ****ty spot, the real estate value of the Mitsu factory may have been one more motive to close it.

The only interesting thing I ever saw happen out at Elizabeth was a Mitsubishi Galant catch fire driving on the highway right in front of me. I saw the flames appear underneath, and started honking the horn. Then next minute he pulled up and fled the flames and smoke. I pulled up, as did everyone behind, and we watched it burn to a crisp in about a minute. If you ever are in a car that starts to burn, get out. It happens real fast.

[MonaroSS]

Originally Posted by Slick_Holden

We only in 2005 retired our 79 VB Commodore.. ****en great car, It lost in all area's you couldn't find many things that would beat something modern, Ride engine trans etc, But it just had a sole and i loved driving it it made me happy. I had an attachment with that car, My new cars i don't have these attachments with.

There better in every way, My Berlina has more electrics in it's doors then the old VB had in it's body... But it made my face grin with happiness. Something modern cars lack i think.

You should do like me and simply keep all your old cars.

I gave our old VB to my 18 year old nephew who is rebuilding it from the ground up to give it a new life. Like mikmak says, everything seems better when you're young. He just likes it 'cos it's a manual and it's RWD. He has to use a six for now but there are V8's to slip in when he's off P's.

So the good things still apply and appeal. I like that he didn't turn into a ricer, as he wouldn't have been given a car for that....

Am I bad to indoctrinate an impressionable young mind to my way of thinking?

But I'm not trying to blind him to other brands. After the P's, instead of a V8 for the VB, there's a clean XR, a few tins of gold paint and a few spare Cleveland 351's and 9-inch rear ends with 4W discs with his name on if he wants.

[BBDOS CV8]

The art deco front of Elizabeth is quite cool. I have pics somewhere. My avatar is my car parked out the side door in 2004. But yes, by and large it's like the industial western suburbs of any Australian city - far from the sea, not a place you want to be, ideal for a factor-y. Excep of course Perth - if you were out west too far you'd be in the drink.

[Slick_Holden]

Originally Posted by mikmak

That's part of getting old slick. Everything seems better when you're young. As the years pass, those old "classics" are out classed but the attraction remains, like a one night stand that doesn't get the hint when you tell her the number for Silver Cabs.

HQ was the most honest best car ever made by the way, and pies are waaay too expensive. back in my day you could get a maggot bag WITH dead 'orse and a bag a cobbers for ha'pnny and a hand shake blah blah blah call that music! Bon scott snore zzzzzzz


......what Emma Peel in a cat suit?

Silver cab was on speed dial.

I'm not really a fan of older cars, Before the Commodore i wasn't a fan of anything, So today I'm guessing the only reason i liked Holdens was the good old VB.
I still remeber driving it out for the last time to the tow truck.
Back in the early 90's we got 2 weeks from $30 petrol.. The good old days.

Originally Posted by MonaroSS

You should do like me and simply keep all your old cars.

I gave our old VB to my 18 year old nephew who is rebuilding it from the ground up to give it a new life. Like mikmak says, everything seems better when you're young. He just likes it 'cos it's a manual and it's RWD. He has to use a six for now but there are V8's to slip in when he's off P's.

So the good things still apply and appeal. I like that he didn't turn into a ricer, as he wouldn't have been given a car for that....

Am I bad to indoctrinate an impressionable young mind to my way of thinking?

But I'm not trying to blind him to other brands. After the P's, instead of a V8 for the VB, there's a clean XR, a few tins of gold paint and a few spare Cleveland 351's and 9-inch rear ends with 4W discs with his name on if he wants.

I'd be stuffed for room.

I got 2 spaces now and one is my Berlina sitting on the grass looking good but going nowhere..
I had the VB in a spot sitting for far to long with no room, Was sad, But i still got the VP which i gave to my mum i still drive that it's been a good car also.

I'd love to have a project car be something great. In some ways the Berlina has almost been a semi project for me.

But i do like modern cars, more power and the ease they move with today, But nothing beats the old V8's for fun.