holden timeline
From the beginning...
| 1850 | James Alexander Holden departs England for South Australia via America |
| 1852 | J.A. Holden arrives in South Australia |
| 1855 | First horse-drawn trams seen in Adelaide |
| 1856 | J.A. Holden sets up J.A Holden & Co, a saddlery business in Adelaide |
| 1860 | Moves to new premises on the corner of Rundle and King William streets |
| 1865 | Moves to Grawler Place |
| 1872 | New partnership formed - Holden & Birks |
| 1875 | Holden & Birks dissolved and J.A. Holden & Co. re-established |
| 1878 | Move to larger premises in Grenfell Street |
| 1878 | New branch of business started - the repair and renovation of coaches |
| 1879 | J.A. Holden takes 20 year old son Henry into the business and changes the name to J.A. Holden & Son |
| 1885 | Henry Frost becomes a partner, changes the name to Holden & Frost |
| 1887 | J.A Holden dies, aged 52. Henry becomes senior partner |
| 1896 | Holden & Frost becomes major supplier of harness and saddlery under government wartime contracts (Boer War) |
| 1908 | Holden & Frost engages in minor repairs to car upholstery and manufacturing hoods and side curtains |
| 1908 | General Motors Company (GM) organised, incorporating the Buick Company, Oldsmobile, Oakland and Cadillac |
| 1910 | Mr F.R. Stevenson hired by Holden & Frost to start a motor trimming department, marketed as 'Holdfast Trimmings' |
| 1913 | Holden & Frost begins production of complete motorcycle sidecar bodies |
| 1914 | The GM Export Company first resident field representative, E.S. Pendleton, is sent to Sydney |
| 1917 | Wartime trade restrictions lead to Holden & Frost commencing large scale production of car bodies |
| 1917 | Holden Motor Body Builders (HMBB) is set up as a division of Holden |
| 1917 | Buys out F.T. Hack Ltd to increase production facilities |
| 1917 | Builds first two bodies - both open tourers |
| 1919 | H.J Holden incorporates a new company - Holden's Motor Body Builders Ltd (HMBB) |
| 1923 | J.D Mooney and E.C Riley of GM Export Company meet with HMBB to arrange for Holden to supply GM with bodies |
| 1923 | Construction of a plant on 22 acres at Woodville, SA commences in November |
| 1924 | HMBB now sole body suppliers for GM. Continues production for other car makers at original King William Street premises. Combined output of 65 body styles and 22 150 units - above half of all Australian production |
| 1924 | Production commences at Holden's new Woodville plant in July |
| 1925 | Holden & Frost Sold |
| 1926 | GM establishes operations in Australia with the formation of General Motors (Australia) Pty Ltd, with headquarters in Collins Street, Melbourne |
| 1926 | GM established assembly plants in City Road - Melbourne, Marrickville - Sydney, Newstead - Brisbane, Birkenhead - Adelaide and Cottesloe Beach - Perth |
| 1928 | The first 'Lion and Stone' symbol representing the legend of mans invention of the wheel, is designed in plaster by sculptor George Raynor Hof |
| 1930 | Worldwide depression hits Australia - and Holden's which has just completed a major expansion, is caught off guard. |
| 1931 | Holden's is closed for most of the year, producing just 1651 bodies, a drop of over 95% from over 38000 five years before |
| 1931 | GM purchases HMBB for just £1 111 800. GM (Aust) and HMBB merge to form General Motors Holden's Limited (GM-H) with Sir Edward Holden as its first chairman |
| 1932 | Australian car sales drop from 1928 peak of 88 815 to 14 000. Holden sales drop 90% |
| 1934 | Laurence J Hartnett takes up his duties in Australia as Managing Director of GM-H |
| 1935 | GM-H produces its 'All-Enclosed Coupe' for Oldsmobile, Pontiac and Chevrolet chassis. Dubbed the 'Sloper', this uniquely Australian design is the forerunner to the hatchback |
| 1935 | Builds first all steel bodies (Plymouth chassis) |
| 1936 | GM-H sets up new headquarters and a new assembly plant on 20 hectares of land at Fishermans Bend, Melbourne |
| 1938 | Holden's installs a '1000 ton' press for the 'all steel' body era |
| 1940 | New Pagewood assembly plant opens |
| 1940 | All Holden's factories in wartime production of aeroplane frames, bomb cases, machine guns, armoured cars, troop carriers and boats |
| 1942 | GM-H mass produces internal combustion engines - Gypsy Major (aero), Gray Marine (naval), 4 - cylinder radial (torpedo) |
| 1943 | Military contracts wind down |
| 1943 | GM-H revives plans to build an Australian car and begins the first prototype, the 'Project 2000' |
| 1944 | GM-H responds to Federal Government request for submissions from companies interested in producing an Australian car, and undertakes to carry out the project without subsidy or tariff assistance. Funds are to be raised in Australia |
| 1945 | Local 'Project 2000' becomes 'Project 2200' as design work on Australian car commences in the US |
| 1946 | Holden engineers and designers join a GM team in Detroit. The project transfers to Fishermens Bend headquarters late in the year |
| 1946 | Preparations for manufacture include the expansion of existing operations, addition of facilities to manufacture motors, transmissions, axles, sheet metal stampings and chassis components |
| 1947 | Testing of three hand built US and two Australian prototypes is undertaken on rough local roads and some components are extensively modified |
| 1947 | Names for the new car are sort - ANZAC and GMH considered |
| 1948 | First production schedule takes place on April 5 and a secret 10 car final test run is conducted later in the month |
| 1948 | The name HOLDEN is decided on |
| 1948 | 26,000 employees and family members preview the new model at 'open house' gatherings at GM-H plants nationwide |
| 1948 | 1200 official guests, including Prime Minister Ben Chifley, attend the launch of the 48-215 Holden at Fishermens Bend on 29th November. Initial production capacity averages 10 vehicles per day |
| 1948 | 300 Australian companies are contracted to supply components, materials and services |
| 1949 | Unexpectedly high demand for 'Australia's Own Car' far exceeds supply. The Holden is advertised as 'worth waiting for' and efforts are made to achieve annual production of 20 000 units |
| 1950 | New vehicle registrations in Australia total 206,087 - almost 70% up on the previous year. Total sales of GM-H products exceed the 1949 total by 60% |
| 1950 | The number of Holden employees Australia-wide exceeds 10,000 |
| 1951 | Production rates reach 100 units a day. Total 48-215 production passes 50,000 |
| 1951 | The first Holden 'Coupe Utility' is launched |
| 1951 | PVC interior trims are introduced |
| 1952 | On Holdens fourth birthday, GM-H announces an £11 million expansion program designed to raise output to 200 units a day. Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide plants to be enlarged and modernised |
| 1953 | The famous FJ Holden is launched in September. The extended model range now includes a Special Sedan, Standard Sedan, Business Sedan and Utility. The Panel Van arrives in December |
| 1953 | Based on record sales, GM-H makes the largest profit in its history and creates 1700 new jobs |
| 1954 | Exports of Holden to New Zealand begin in November |
| 1954 | One in every three vehicles on Australian roads is a GM-H product |
| 1954 | Seven GM-H plants employ 13,822 people |
| 1955 | Market leader GM-H reports that its 27% market share did not reflect true demand as availability was limited by production facilities |
| 1955 | 2152 acres of land are selected at Lang Lang, Victoria, and plans to construct a 'modern and completely equipped proving ground' - Australia's first - commence |
| 1956 | In January, the 250 000th Holden, an FJ, is built and the tubeless tyre is introduced |
| 1956 | The new Dandenong body and assembly plant opens |
| 1956 | The first entirely new Holden since the 48-215, the FE, is launched following four years of development and a £4 million investment |
| 1956 | Holdens are shipped to Thailand, Malaya and North Borneo |
| 1957 | The first Holden station wagon, based on the FE sedan, is produced in March |
| 1957 | 4500 Holdens are exported to seventeen markets, including Hong Kong, Sudan and East Africa |
| 1957 | The Lang Lang proving ground commences operation |
| 1957 | The one millionth car body is produced at the Woodville plant |
| 1958 | The FC Holden is launched in May |
| 1958 | Holden passenger cars account for 47.4% of total registration. The Holden Ute records 49.6% of the light commercial market |
| 1958 | The total number of Holdens produced exceeds 500,000 |
| 1958 | Employees reach 18,699 - an increase of over 10,000 in 10 years |
| 1959 | Assembly of CKD (Complete Knocked Down) Holden Ute commences in Indonesia and South Africa |
| 1960 | The FB Holden is launched in January |
| 1960 | Left-hand drive production for export market begins, the first shipment to Hawaii follows |
| 1960 | The Elizabeth hardware plant opens |
| 1961 | The EK Holden is launched in May |
| 1962 | A new body assembly plant opens at Elizabeth, a new engine plant at Fishermens Bend nears completion |
| 1962 | The EJ Holden is launched in July |
| 1962 | When the millionth Holden is completed on 25th October, it is estimated that if these cars were placed bumper to bumper they would stretch from Geraldton, WA to Townsville, QLD. The 1,000,000th Holden is a Euroa Gold EJ Premier sedan |
| 1963 | The new 6-cylinder engine plant and foundry commences operation at Fishermens Bend. Capacity is 700 engines per day |
| 1963 | The EH Holden is introduced, GM-H's best selling Holden to date |
| 1963 | GM-H retains sales leadership for twelfth successive year, sets new sales records |
| 1964 | Employee total reaches 23,914 |
| 1964 | A new technological centre opens at Fishermens Bend, housing over 900 designers, engineers, draftsmen, modellers, technicians and tradesmen |
| 1965 | The radical new wide body HD model is introduced |
| 1965 | Holden retains long-term sales leadership record, outselling its nearest competitor by more than 3:1. One out of every three cars on Australian roads is a Holden |
| 1965 | Exports increase by 41 per cent to total 19,368 units |
| 1965 | The 1,500,000 Holden is produced. Australian content exceeds 95 per cent |
| 1965 | 601 Holden dealerships nationwide employ over 20 000 people |
| 1966 | The HR Holden is launched in April |
| 1966 | GM-H is the first Australian manufacturer to fit seatbelts on all models |
| 1966 | Vehicle assembly at the new Acacia Ridge, QLD plant commences |
| 1967 | GM-H improves its market position with the launch of the first small Holden, the Torana. It takes its name from an Aboriginal word meaning 'to fly' which is based on the Vauxhall Viva |
| 1967 | The 100,000th export Holden is produced |
| 1968 | The HK Kingswood introduced, along with the Holden Monaro and Brougham |
| 1968 | More than 4000 Australian companies are supplying Holden with components, materials and services |
| 1969 | The HT Holden launched in May |
| 1969 | Australia's first automotive safety design test centre opens at the Lang Lang proving ground |
| 1969 | The first Australian made V8, developed at the cost of $22.5 million at its new Fishermens Bend plant, is exhibited in the advanced, mid-engined Holden Hurricane experimental car and introduced with the HT range |
| 1969 | The 2,000,000th Holden, a HK Brougham, is produced |
| 1969 | GM-H employs almost 26 000 people at ten locations worldwide |
| 1970 | The HG Holden launched in July |
| 1970 | Total annual Holden sales exceed 200 000 |
| 1970 | The GTR-X fibreglass-bodied Torana concept model is exhibited to gauge public reaction |
| 1970 | A $16.5 million Tri-Matic transmission plant, Holden's first, opens at Woodville, SA |
| 1971 | The 18 model HQ range is introduced in July, following the most ambitious product development program undertaken by GM-H since the first Holden |
| 1971 | Holden's first luxury long-wheelbase derivative, the Statesman, is launched |
| 1971 | The first car-based Holden cab/chassis light truck, the 'one tonner' is launched |
| 1972 | The LJ Torana is launched |
| 1973 | Holden celebrates the 25th anniversary of manufacture in Australia |
| 1973 | A record year for Holden, with 41 000 vehicles exported. Seven overseas plants also assemble Holden vehicles from Australian-manufactured components |
| 1974 | The three millionth Holden is produced |
| 1974 | The HJ Holden is launched in October |
| 1974 | Launch of the all Australian LH Torana range, one of the few cars ever offered with a choice of 4-, 6- or 8-cylinder engines |
| 1975 | The Holden Gemini TX is launched, a version of GM-H's first world car. Soon becomes Australia's most popular small 4-cylinder car and 43,099 TX models are built. |
| 1975 | GM-H Pty Ltd becomes General Motors-Holden's Ltd |
| 1976 | General Motors celebrates 50 years in Australia |
| 1976 | The HX Holden is launched in July |
| 1977 | The HZ Holden is launched in October |
| 1977 | Holden introduces Radial Tuned Suspension (RTS) to Torana and full sized Holden models |
| 1978 | Holden celebrates its 25th straight year of overall market leadership |
| 1978 | A major change in direction with launch of the VB Commodore in October |
| 1979 | Holden announces a $300 million expansion plan, which includes a new engine plant at Fishermens Bend |
| 1980 | WB versions of the Statesman deVille, Caprice and Holden's car based commercial vehicles are launched |
| 1980 | The VC Commodore is introduced in March |
| 1980 | The Isuzu-sourced Holden Rodeo light commercial range goes on sale |
| 1980 | VC Commodore wins Bathurst |
| 1981 | The four millionth Holden, a VC Commodore, is produced. It is driven off the line by Sir Laurence Hartnett, acknowledged as the father of the Holden car project |
| 1981 | The Isuzu sourced Jackaroo, Holden's first 4WD passenger vehicle, is announced |
| 1981 | The VH Commodore is launched in September |
| 1981 | Holden's new engine plant is commissioned and begins production of Family Two 4-clinder engines. Exports of these begin with a shipment to England |
| 1982 | Holden's version of GM's international 'J-Car', the Camira JB sedan, is released. It is the first front-wheel drive car produced by Holden, powered by the Family Two 4-cylinder engine |
| 1982 | The Holden Shuttle, Holden's entry into the forward control van market, is unveiled |
| 1982 | VH Commodore wins Bathurst |
| 1983 | Engine plant production reaches 1000 units a day |
| 1983 | VH Commodore wins Bathurst |
| 1984 | The VK Commodore is launched in February, with some new model names - Executive, Berlina and Calais |
| 1984 | Production of Statesman models and car based light commercials discontinued |
| 1984 | VK Commodore wins Bathurst |
| 1985 | The Suzuki based Barina Hatchback, 4WD Drover and Scurry delivery van are released |
| 1985 | A single point tool body assembly shuttle is introduced at the Elizabeth manufacturing facility |
| 1986 | The VL Commodore is launched in February |
| 1986 | Holden is restructured into two companies: Holden's Motor Company (HMC) and Holden's Engine Components Company (HEC) |
| 1986 | VK Commodore wins Bathurst |
| 1987 | A completely new Astra model, powered by the Family Two 1.8 litre engine, joins the Holden range, the result of a joint venture with Nissan |
| 1987 | Holden contributes to the GM Sunraycer's victory in the first cross continental solar race, run from Darwin to Adelaide |
| 1987 | VL Commodore wins Bathurst |
| 1988 | Agreements are signed to create United Australian Automotive Industries Ltd (UAAI), the controlling company for a Holden - Toyota joint venture. The GM arm of the new company is to be known as General Motors-Holden's Automotive Ltd (GMHA) |
| 1988 | The VN Commodore is launched in August |
| 1988 | The MF Barina is released with a completely new 'aero' body |
| 1988 | Formation of Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) |
| 1988 | The 1 millionth Family Two engine is exported |
| 1989 | The VN Commodore range wins major car of the year awards |
| 1989 | Holden Commodore is Australia's best selling car for 1989 |
| 1989 | GM and Isuzu form joint venture company Isuzu-General Motors Australia Ltd to manufacture and market commercial vehicles |
| 1990 | Holden rejoins the long-wheelbase field with the introduction of the new Statesman and Caprice luxury models. They feature the first independent rear suspension (IRS) fitted to a locally designed and built mass produced car |
| 1990 | The Holden Ute returns (Model code VG, known as the VN Ute) |
| 1990 | The five millionth Holden is produced, more then twice as many as any other Australian built car |
| 1990 | VL Commodore wins Bathurst |
| 1991 | Total export revenue tops $AU1.9 billion |
| 1991 | The VP Commodore is launched in October |
| 1992 | Anti-lock brakes (ABS) become available on IRS-equipped Commodore and Calais sedans |
| 1993 | The VR Commodore is launched in July, after an investment of $AU100 million in plant and equipment |
| 1993 | First Australian maker to fit a driver airbag system |
| 1993 | VP Commodore wins Bathurst |
| 1994 | $AU150 million, state-of-the-art paint facility opens at Elizabeth |
| 1994 | Production of Holden's two millionth export engine |
| 1994 | The Holden V8 celebrates its 25th anniversary. Over 450 000 have been built |
| 1994 | The VR Commodore tops the passenger car market. Holden production is up 25 percent on 1993, sales grow by 19.5 percent |
| 1995 | VS Commodore launched with 3800 ECOTEC engine, million dollar technology investment, and the first application by and Australian manufacturer of driver and passenger airbags |
| 1995 | The Elizabeth manufacturing facility produces 107,000 vehicles in one year, setting a new annual production record |
| 1995 | VR Commodore wins Bathurst |
| 1996 | The all new Astra TR is launched in August |
| 1996 | The Supercharged 3.8L V6 is made as an option on Calais, Statesman and Caprice |
| 1997 | The release of the Vectra JR, replacing the Toyota sourced Apollo (Camry) |
| 1997 | The VT Commodore is launched in September |
| 1996 | VR Commodore wins Bathurst |
| 1997 | First Australian manufacturer to fit Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) as standard on all family sized models |
| 1997 | Barina Cabrio - first Holden convertible - is launched in October |
| 1997 | VS Commodore wins Bathurst |
| 1998 | General Motors Holdens changes name to Holden Ltd |
| 1998 | CK Suburban released in February. Large 4WD added to line up, sourced from GM (USA) |
| 1998 | Vectra Wagon released with the Vectra JS in July |
| 1998 | 2-door Commodore Coupe unveiled at the Sydney Motorshow for the 50th anniversary of Holden |
| 1999 | Gen III 5.7L V8 replaces Australian V8, sourced from Chevrolet |
| 1999 | VT Commodore is sold in the Middle East, rebadged as a Chevrolet Lumina |
| 1999 | VT Commodore wins Bathurst |
| 2000 | WH Statesman and Caprice are launched in Australia |
| 2000 | WH Caprice is sold in the Middle East, rebadged as a Chevrolet Caprice |
| 2000 | VU Ute is introduced |
| 2000 | Holden plans new $500 million plant, possibly in Victoria |
| 2000 | ECOmmodore, an electric hybrid, is unveiled |
| 2000 | VT Commodore wins Bathurst |
| 2001 | XC Barina introduced |
| 2001 | TT Zafira introduced |
| 2001 | V2 (VX) Monaro introduced |
| 2001 | VX Commodore wins Bathurst |
| 2002 | GM purchases Daewoo |
| 2002 | Holden announces record profits of $AU823 million over 4 years |
| 2002 | YG Cruze introduced |
| 2002 | VY Commodore unveiled |
| 2002 | VX Commodore wins Bathurst |
| 2003 | New RA Rodeo released in March. Offers 56 different models |
| 2003 | Due to the collapse of Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) in Europe, Holden buys TWR Australia, taking direct control of the Holden Racing Team (HRT) and others |
| 2003 | WK Statesman⁄Caprice launched |
| 2003 | VY Commodore wins Bathurst |
| 2004 | VZ Commodore and Monaro and WL Statesman⁄Caprice launched |
| 2004 | VY Commodore wins Bathurst |
| 2005 | Viva model name reintroduced |
| 2005 | VZ Commodore wins Bathurst |
| 2006 | VE Commodore and WM Statesman⁄Caprice launched |
| 2007 | Opel-based Vectra replaced by Daewoo-based Epica |
| 2007 | VE Commodore Ute |
| 2008 | 2-door Commodore Coupe60 shown at Melbourne Motor Show for 60th anniversary of Holden |
Return to the Holden, Ute, Commodore, Monaro or Torana Identification Charts.
