Leslie Massey
Australia's automotive industry dates back to the late 19th century, with the first car built in the country being a steam-powered model known as the 'Thomson Motor Phaeton', introduced in 1896 by Herbert Thomson and Edward Holmes of Melbourne. However, the first Australian-designed mass-production car was launched in 1948 by Holden, and it was named the Holden FX. The FX was developed after Prime Minister Ben Chifley challenged the Australian automotive industry to produce a car that would be entirely manufactured within Australia, and it became a symbol of Australian dreams and prosperity in the post-war era.
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What You'll Learn
The first car was a steam-powered model
The first car built in Australia was a steam-powered model, the Thomson Motor Phaeton, introduced by Herbert Thomson and Edward Holmes of Melbourne in 1896. This newly developed vehicle managed to travel a distance of approximately 790 kilometres, at an average speed of 14 kilometres per hour. It took over 56 hours to complete the journey, a feat that stimulated further motor-vehicle development across the country.
The Thomson Motor Phaeton was followed by many improved designs, including the first fully enclosed car body made in Australia. Later models included locally produced components, such as engines, gearboxes, and rear axles. The sole surviving Thomson Motor Phaeton is on display at the RACV City Club, on the chancery level.
In the late 19th century, when horse-drawn carriages and steam trains were the primary means of transportation in Australia, Harley Tarrant, the son of a miner in rural Victoria, became fascinated with the concept of automobiles. Tarrant deduced that steam and electric engines were unsuitable for the Australian terrain, so he and his business partner, Howard Lewis, built a kerosene-powered engine in 1897.
Tarrant went on to establish the Tarrant Motor & Engineering Co., importing and selling overseas motor vehicles, including a Benz, in Australia. With the capital gained from this venture, Tarrant and Lewis began work on their own petrol-driven motor car. Their efforts culminated in the creation of a two-cylinder, two-seater petrol motor car with an imported Benz engine. They subsequently refined their design with a locally made engine, producing a vehicle that was well-suited to Australian conditions, with a focus on durability rather than speed.
The Tarrant Motor Car was a success, but it soon faced competition from Henry Ford's Model T, which offered more features and power at a lower price point. Recognising the superiority of Ford's offering, Tarrant ceased production of his own vehicle and acquired the Victorian franchise for Ford in 1907.
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Harley Tarrant built the first petrol-driven car
Harley Tarrant, the son of a miner in rural Victoria, built Australia's first-ever petrol-driven car at the turn of the century. Tarrant was exposed to a wide range of information and overseas journals on motoring through his father's media business. He worked as a surveyor on the Nullarbor Plain and dreamed of motor vehicles traversing the vast landscape. Tarrant understood that steam and electric engines were not suitable for the Australian terrain, so he decided to build a kerosene engine in 1897 with the help of Howard Lewis, a cycle maker and his business partner.
Tarrant's first car was a two-cylinder, two-seater petrol motor car with an imported Benz engine. This car was a massive success, and Tarrant soon refined it with his own locally made engine. These cars were designed to withstand Australian conditions, focusing on endurance rather than speed. Tarrant's success, however, attracted the attention of overseas car manufacturers, and he soon faced competition in the market.
Despite this, Tarrant continued to thrive, and his company, Tarrant Motor & Engineering Co., became a key player in the early Australian motor industry. Tarrant was also involved in lobbying for better traffic regulations and served on the governing committee of the Automobile Club of Victoria, helping to showcase the capabilities of motor cars. In 1907, Tarrant Motors Pty Ltd acquired the Victorian franchise for Ford, and the production of Tarrant cars ceased.
While Tarrant's invention of Australia's first petrol-driven car was a notable achievement, it was his business acumen and deal with Ford that brought him wealth. Tarrant recognised the potential of the Ford Model T, which was better suited to Australian conditions and more affordable than luxury models. He shut down production of his own car and focused on distributing the Ford Model T in Australia, securing his financial success.
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Tarrant's car was a two-cylinder, two-seater model
Australia's first car was built in 1896 by Herbert Thomson and Edward Holmes of Melbourne. Nicknamed 'The Phaeton', it was a steam-powered car that could travel approximately 790 kilometres at an average speed of 14 kilometres per hour.
However, the first petrol-powered car in Australia was built by Harley Tarrant, a businessman from Clunes, Victoria. Tarrant was the son of a miner and had access to a wealth of information through his father's media business. He became fascinated with the concept of automobiles and, working as a surveyor, dreamt of motor vehicles traversing the Nullarbor Plain. Tarrant wrote publicity articles on motor cars and, with his business partner Howard Lewis, built a kerosene engine in 1897.
Despite his initial success, Tarrant faced competition from Henry Ford's Model T, which offered more features and power at a lower price. Recognising that he could not compete, Tarrant ceased production of his car and acquired the Victorian franchise for Ford in 1907.
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Tarrant Motor & Engineering Co. imported and sold cars
Harley Tarrant, the son of a miner in rural Victoria, built Australia's first petrol-driven car in 1897 with his business partner Howard Lewis. Tarrant's father was a keen media man who owned several newspapers, exposing Tarrant to a wealth of information about motoring, which he became obsessed with. Working as a surveyor on the Nullarbor Plain, Tarrant dreamed of motor vehicles traversing the great expanse and began to write publicity articles on the motor car, which were published in the cycling magazine Austral Wheel.
Tarrant deduced that steam and electric engines would be unsuitable for the Australian terrain, so he and Lewis set about building a kerosene engine. Although it was a failure as a car engine, it proved to be a commercial success for pumping water and was widely sold around Australia, giving him the funds to continue his work.
Tarrant then began importing overseas motor vehicles, including a Benz, to sell in Australia with his new company Tarrant Motor & Engineering Co. This success gave him the capital to build his own petrol-driven motor car. Tarrant and Lewis built a two-cylinder, two-seater petrol motor car with an imported Benz engine. Two years later, they refined it with their own locally made engine. These cars were built for Australian conditions, designed to last long while sacrificing speed.
The Tarrant Motor Car was a huge success, but it soon faced competition from the Ford Model T, which offered more features and power at a lower price. Recognising this, Tarrant shut down the production of his own car and acquired the Victorian franchise for Ford in 1907.
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Holden FX was the first mass-produced Australian car
The Holden FX was the first mass-produced Australian car, launched by Prime Minister Ben Chifley on 29 November 1948. It was the first Australian-designed mass-production car, manufactured by Holden. The FX embodied Australian dreams of prosperity, especially after the austerity of the war years. The release of the FX coincided with an increase in car ownership, rising from one in eight people in 1948 to about one in four by 1956.
The Holden FX cost £733, which was approximately two years' wages for the average worker at the time. Despite this, it was hugely popular, and 120,402 vehicles were manufactured between 1948 and 1953. By the time of its launch, 18,000 people had already paid a deposit to buy a Holden FX. The Holden FX was developed after Chifley challenged the Australian automotive industry in 1944 to produce a car that would be entirely manufactured in Australia. Chifley believed that the expansion of the industry would aid the nation's economic reconstruction in the postwar period by providing economic stimulus and jobs.
Prior to the Holden FX, local manufacturers had built car bodies that were fitted to chassis and engines imported from the United States. The Holden car was named in honour of James A Holden, who had set up the company as a saddlery and harness business in 1856, which then began manufacturing car bodies in 1914. A number of names for the first Australian-made car were considered, including 'Canbra' (a phonetic spelling of Canberra), 'Emu', 'Melba', and 'Anzac'. It was decided that the name should be easy to pronounce and identifiably Australian.
Before the Holden FX, Australia's first car was a steamer built in 1896, named the 'Thomson Motor Phaeton'. This newly developed vehicle managed to travel a distance of approximately 790 kilometres at an average speed of 14 kilometres per hour. It took over 56 hours to complete the journey, a feat that stimulated further motor vehicle development across the country. Another early car in Australia was built by Harley Tarrant, a miner's son in rural Victoria, at the turn of the century. Tarrant's car was a two-cylinder, two-seater petrol motor car with an imported Benz engine.
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Frequently asked questions
The first car built in Australia was the Tarrant Motor Car, a two-cylinder, two-seater petrol motor car with an imported Benz engine.
The first car in Australia was built by Harley Tarrant, with the help of cycle maker and business partner Howard Lewis.
The first Australian car was built in 1897.
Tarrant was inspired to build a car after reading about motoring in overseas journals. He also wrote publicity articles on the motor car, which were published in the magazine Austral Wheel.
Tarrant Motor & Engineering Co. was forced to shut down production of its car after Henry Ford's Model T arrived in Australia in 1908. Tarrant acquired the Victorian franchise for Ford in 1907.
