The name Holden spanned the car manufacturing period that went from small innovative craft companies to huge manufactures seeking economies of scale. As David Brown reports.
In 1852, James Alexander Holden emigrated to South Australia from Walsall,[6] England, and started a company in Adelaide making horse saddles, harnesses and equipment in 1856.
In the early 1900s, Ransom Olds invented the assembly line and Henry Ford mechanised it. But there were still many independent, car makers. The big companies had yet to establish fully owned operations in Australia.
Holden first began vehicle production in 1917 making car bodies for imported Chevrolet chassis.
In 1931 having be greatly affected by the depression Holden “merged” with General Motors.
Production or assembly plants have operated in all mainland states of Australia which were then consolidated in an engine plant in Melbourne and an assembly line in Adelaide and then ceased altogether.
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