69 Years of Australian Manufacturing
1988-92: Australian automotive manufacturing hits hard times
Australia’s car industry struggled in the wake of the Button Plan, with Nissan the first of the Big Five to fall
1983-87: The beginning of the end
The end of the protectionism that propped up the Australian car industry was in sight as Ford enjoyed life at the top
1978-82: Football, meat pies, kangaroos, and Aussie cars
The Holden Commodore arrives as the nation struggles to set the framework for the car industry
1973-77: Paving the way for change
Australia struggles with an economic slump that also hits new-car sales hard
1968-1972: Boom of the big bangers
Seatbelts arrive, Ford outsells Holden, a switch to the left proves too expensive, and Australia’s seven local car makers face an uncertain future
1963-67: The push for Australian-made
Holden pegs a production record for its most Aussie car yet, while the government encourages others to build vehicles here
1958-62: The Falcon flies
Holden builds momentum as Ford launches its version of Australia’s own car
1953-57: Evolution of an industry
In the second of our series, Holden grows from strength to strength as Australia’s appetite for new cars booms
1948-52: Australia’s post-war car industry is born
In the first of our series, we look back at the birth of the Australian carmaking industry