Holden exhibition tells the story of Australia’s iconic automaker

An exhibition has opened in Canberra to tell the story of one of the icons of Australian manufacturing.

Rear vision: the Holden collection is a free exhibition at the National Archives of Australia, following the growth of Holden from its humble beginnings as a 19th-century saddlery to a maker of horse-drawn buggies and Melbourne tram bodies, then eventually becoming a leader in the automotive industry with global influence.

Curated by the State Library of South Australia and Adelaide University, the event delves into key stories within Holden’s history, including its role supporting the Allies during World War II, workers’ fight for equal pay, and the contribution of women and immigrants to the company.

Along with an original 1948 Holden 48-215, the exhibition features a detailed Lego model and the first engine manufactured by Holden – an air-cooled four-cylinder built in 1940 for aircraft.

Visitors can also explore drawings, images, archival records, and rare artefacts from when Holden began in 1856 to when the brand was finally retired on January 1, 2021 – more than three years after local manufacturing ended when the last VFII Commodore rolled off the line in Adelaide in September 2017.

Free to attend and running until October 11, 2026, Rear vision: the Holden collection is open daily between 9:00am and 5:00pm at the National Archives of Australia in Parkes, ACT. For more information, visit the NAA website by clicking here.

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