With the letters "Last One" and the date "29/11/16" stamped on the back, the very last Holden six-cylinder motor rolled off the company's Port Melbourne production line at 10.47am on Tuesday, bringing to an end almost seven decades of local engine manufacturing.
For the 175 staff at Holden's HFV6 production line, the event was very much ceremonial. The last customer engine was actually built at midday on Monday, as part of a stockpile of motors for the company final 2017 run of Commodores.
More BusinessDay Videos
- Video duration
- 01:47
History of Holden
History of Holden
Football, meat pies, kangaroos and... Holden's decision to cease local production will mean the end of an icon.
Up Next
China adds curbs on yuan outflows
- Video duration
- 03:29
- Video duration
- 03:29
China adds curbs on yuan outflows
China adds curbs on yuan outflows
China has imposed new restrictions on the movement of cash outside the country to prevent a flood of capital outflows from destabilising the financial system.
Up Next
Abused retail worker speaks out
- Video duration
- 00:51
- Video duration
- 00:51
Abused retail worker speaks out
Abused retail worker speaks out
Jack Burrows, 19, tells his experiences of customer abuse, including being spat on, while working at a supermarket.
Up Next
Beware MYEFO myopia
- Video duration
- 01:57
- Video duration
- 01:57
Beware MYEFO myopia
Beware MYEFO myopia
Guesstimates are rolling in about whether this year's budget deficit forecast has blown out on low wages growth or is holding on thanks to higher commodity prices. Michael Pascoe comments.
Up Next
OPEC deal: What's next for oil?
- Video duration
- 04:34
- Video duration
- 04:34
OPEC deal: What's next for oil?
OPEC deal: What's next for oil?
The winners and losers of the OPEC production cut deal and what's ahead for oil producers.
Up Next
Mnuchin 'relatively safe choice' says analyst
- Video duration
- 01:18
- Video duration
- 01:18
Mnuchin 'relatively safe choice' says ...
Mnuchin 'relatively safe choice' says analyst
President-elect Donald Trump picks ex-Goldman Sachs Steven Mnuchin to lead the US Treasury Department and Wall Street breathes a sigh of relief, says an analyst.
Up Next
Trump to leave business
- Video duration
- 01:03
- Video duration
- 01:03
Trump to leave business
Trump to leave business
US President-elect Donald Trump tweets he would totally leave his business, after speculation that his business could create unprecedented conflicts of interest.
Up Next
Cloning profit: Franchises
- Video duration
- 03:29
- Video duration
- 03:29
Cloning profit: Franchises
Cloning profit: Franchises
If a franchise is a clone of a proven business concept, why do some fail?
History of Holden
Football, meat pies, kangaroos and... Holden's decision to cease local production will mean the end of an icon.
Staff gathered at the plant on Tuesday morning as final engine was built, with Holden's management team on site to mark the occasion. The production line team were then given lunch, a polo shirt, a yearbook and photo to commemorate their "contribution to our company and our industry", before being shown the door for the very last time.
According to Holden, in the lead up to Tuesday's engine plant closure, 57 employees had already left with 80 percent securing employment and the remainder not seeking further employment, the majority retiring.
The 175 people made redundant by the engine plant closure have access to "a suite of transition services" and up to $3000 in approved training services.
The final V6 engine is destined for Holden's museum collection.
Holden has manufactured at the Fishermans Bend site since 1936, made engines there since 1948, and the Port Melbourne factory has been the centre of the company's engine production since 1981. In total, more than 10 million engines have been built in Port Melbourne for domestic and international markets. Since 2003, a total of 1,137,282 HFV6 series engines have been built at the plant. Of these, 699,806 were for domestic vehicles, and 437,436 were exported.
"The best way we can honour our people and their legacy is by building a bright future and that's exactly what we're doing," said Mark Bernhard, Holden's chairman and managing director.
"While it was an emotional time to see the last engine built today, we are proud to retain a significant presence in Australia for the long-term."
80 comments
Comment are now closed