Damon Mcknight
Australia has a long history of car manufacturing, with Australian carmakers playing a significant role in shaping the automotive industry nationally and internationally for decades. The romance between Australians and their cars took off in the early 1900s, with the first Australian-made petrol-driven car being produced in 1897 or 1900. By 1927, one in four Australian families owned a car, and by 1955, one in ten Australians owned a car. The Australian automobile industry continued to boom in the 1960s, with US companies dominating the market and the four-door sedan being the most popular choice for households.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First car imported to Australia | 1897 |
| First Australian-designed car | 1896, the Thomson Motor Phaeton, a steam-powered car |
| First Australian-built petrol car | 1897, the Tarrant, built by Harry A. Tarrant |
| Australian Motoring Association formed | 1903 |
| First Australian-built Ford | 1925 |
| Holden's first car | 1948 |
| Holden FX sales peak | 1952 |
| Holden Utes built in Indonesia | 1956 |
| First Japanese car introduced to the Australian market | 1963 |
| First solar-powered car race in Australia | 1983 |
| First mass-production fully electric car sold to the public | General Motors EV1 |
| First tyre factory in Australia closes | 2010 |
| Last major car manufacturer in Australia | Toyota Australia |
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What You'll Learn
The first cars in Australia
In 1896, Herbert Thomson and Edward Holmes of Armadale, Melbourne, crafted the Phaeton, Australia's first steam-powered car. Exhibited in 1900, the 5-horsepower single-cylinder steam carriage demonstrated its reliability by travelling 493 miles from Bathurst to Melbourne at an average speed of 8.7 miles per hour.
Around the same time, in 1897, Harley Tarrant, the son of a miner in rural Victoria, developed a passion for automobiles. Tarrant, with his exposure to international publications and his experience as a surveyor, recognised the limitations of steam and electric engines for the Australian terrain. He set out to build a kerosene engine with the help of Howard Lewis, a cycle maker and business partner.
In 1901, Tarrant produced the first Tarrant automobile, marking a significant milestone as it was the first petrol-driven car entirely built in Australia. Tarrant's initial venture into the automotive world was a two-cylinder, two-seater petrol motor car with an imported Benz engine. However, he soon refined his design by incorporating a locally made engine. Tarrant's vehicles were specifically built for Australian conditions, emphasising durability over speed, and they gained widespread popularity.
Tarrant's success in the Australian market attracted the attention of international car manufacturers, including Henry Ford. Ford's Model T, introduced to Australia in 1908, posed direct competition to Tarrant's vehicles. The Model T was more affordable, offered additional features and power, and was well-suited to the Australian landscape, particularly appealing to farmers. Recognising the superiority of Ford's offering, Tarrant ceased production of his own car and acquired the Victorian franchise for Ford in 1907.
The arrival of Ford's Model T in Australia marked a pivotal moment in the country's automotive history. The widespread adoption of these affordable and capable vehicles contributed to the increasing presence of cars in Australia during the early 20th century. By 1921, one in every four Australian families owned a car, and the country's fascination with automobiles continued to grow.
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Tarrant: the first Australian-built car
The Tarrant is considered the first Australian-built car. In 1897, Harley Tarrant, a young businessman in Clunes, Victoria, and the son of a miner, developed a passion for automobiles. Tarrant was exposed to a wealth of information and overseas journals, which fuelled his interest in motoring. He began to dream of motor vehicles traversing the Nullarbor Plain and started writing 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 his business partner, Howard Lewis, a bicycle maker, set about building a kerosene engine in 1897. Tarrant and Lewis went on to build the first Australian-made petrol-driven car in 1901, called the Tarrant. The car was a two-cylinder, two-seater model with an imported Benz engine. Tarrant and Lewis refined their design two years later, creating their own locally made engine. These cars were built for Australian conditions, prioritising durability over speed.
The Tarrant company cars were of very good quality, and in 1905, a Tarrant car tied with four imported cars in the Dunlop trial from Melbourne to Sydney. Tarrant's success in the Australian market caught the attention of overseas car manufacturers, who soon began to compete with him. Tarrant shut down the production of his car in 1907 and acquired the Victorian franchise for Ford. Knocked-down versions of the Ford Model T began arriving in Australia in 1908 to be assembled by dealers.
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The rise of the Australian car industry
In 1901, Harley Tarrant produced the first Tarrant automobile, widely considered Australia's first car due to its petrol-powered engine. Tarrant played a significant role in the local automotive industry, lobbying for better traffic regulations and serving as an important figure in the Motor Importers Association and the Automobile Club of Victoria. During this time, other pioneers like Bruno Hammer and Howard Lewis also made their mark in automobile development.
The early 20th century saw the formation of organisations like the Australian Motoring Association (1903) and the Australian Automobile Association (1924), which protected the interests of motorists. In 1915, the Ford Model T was launched in Australia, and by 1918, Tarrant Motors faced scrutiny due to production errors during World War I. Despite setbacks, the industry recovered in the 1920s, and Ford Motors Australia established itself as the country's first major carmaker in 1925. Holden Motors, in conjunction with General Motors, soon rose to become the leading car manufacturer in the country.
The post-World War II era marked a significant turning point for the Australian car industry. The government, focused on economic recovery and infrastructure development, offered subsidies and tax concessions to foreign companies to establish car manufacturing in Australia. This support for the automotive industry was driven by the perception of cars as symbols of modernity and progression. Holden, already a reputable name, released its first badge in 1948, and by the 1950s, one in ten households owned a car. The company expanded rapidly, opening the Elizabeth production facility in South Australia in 1958 and exporting models worldwide.
The 1950s and 1960s witnessed the growing popularity of European and American cars, with manufacturers like Volkswagen, Renault, Peugeot, Citroen, and British Leyland establishing assembly plants in Australia. This era also saw the rise of muscle cars, with Ford and Holden as the primary manufacturers. Holden's Kingswood and Monaro models, introduced in 1968, became iconic in the Australian market. By the 1970s, Australian car manufacturing peaked, with almost half a million cars produced annually, ranking 10th in the world.
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The impact of World War Two
The Australian government's focus on supporting the automotive industry during this time is worth noting. Cars were seen as symbols of modernity and progression, and parliamentarians advocated for government backing. This resulted in the first government support for the car industry in the post-war period.
The war also influenced the types of vehicles produced in Australia. There was a need to produce armoured cars and tanks domestically, especially with the UK's inability to provide sufficient supplies during the Pacific campaign. While the majority of armoured units still relied on imported Allied tanks and vehicles, Australia began developing its own military equipment, including the Sentinel tank and its support version, the Thunderbolt.
The war also impacted the civilian automotive market in Australia. Post-war migration from Europe led to the increased popularity of European car makes and models, with manufacturers like Volkswagen, Renault, Peugeot, and Citroen setting up assembly plants across the country. Additionally, the war may have accelerated the adoption of cars in Australia. By 1953, one in ten households owned a car, and by the end of the 1950s, new technologies were rapidly modernizing vehicles, making them faster and more feature-rich.
In summary, World War Two had a significant impact on the Australian automotive industry, shaping government policies, influencing vehicle production and design, and contributing to the growing adoption of cars among Australian households in the post-war period.
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The decline of Australian car manufacturing
The Australian automobile industry once employed 100,000 people and produced tens of thousands of vehicles for both domestic consumption and export abroad. However, the industry has been in decline since the 1980s, and by 2016, major car manufacturers like Mitsubishi, Ford, Holden, and Toyota had exited Australian manufacturing. The last factory, operated by Toyota, closed in 2017.
There were several factors that contributed to the decline of the Australian car manufacturing industry. One of the main reasons was the emergence of cheaper, more competitive Asian companies. The lowering of import tariffs and the signing of Free Trade Agreements made it difficult for Australian car manufacturers to compete with the lower labour costs in Asian countries. Additionally, the Australian market was too small for the industry to fully exploit economies of scale.
Another factor was the reduction in government support. The Australian government had historically provided subsidies and tax concessions to foreign car manufacturers to encourage production in Australia. However, by the 2000s, the government was tired of subsidizing the carmaking industry, and this support began to wane.
The appreciation of the Australian dollar and the increasing wages and better work conditions demanded by unions also made it more expensive for car manufacturers to produce vehicles in Australia.
The decline of the Australian car manufacturing industry had a significant impact on the country's economy and culture. The industry's collapse severely disrupted the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (PSTS) sector, resulting in tens of thousands of job losses. Additionally, the local tribalism of Holden and Ford families gave rise to one of the great automotive rivalries, and the rugged cars they produced, like the Holden "Ute," had a lot of appeal to Australians.
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Frequently asked questions
Cars became common in Australia in the 1950s when car ownership became a reality for one in 10 households.
The first car in Australia was the Pender-Hertel, imported in 1897. The first Australian-made car was the Tarrant, built in 1897 by Harry A. Tarrant (some sources say 1901). It was the first petrol-driven car manufactured in Australia.
The first Australian-designed mass-production car was the Holden 48-215, launched in 1948.
The Toyota Corolla became the best-selling car in Australia in 2004.
