Ford Discovery Centre To Close

Ford's Discovery Centre in the Victorian city of Geelong is to close at the end of July.

The closure brings to an end a thirteen year tenure for the centre, opened as a joint-venture non-profit trust with Deakin University.

Announcing the closure this week, Ford Australia said that more than 250,000 people have been through the centre.

While billed as an "outstanding education experience...for those interested in automotive engineering and manufacturing design," the centre is no longer deemed viable.

The trust cites the "ever-changing needs in the museum industry" and that the centre could not evolve or expand in its current form.

To that end, Ford and Deakin are exploring "alternative ways in which to continue highlighting our joint history of cutting-edge engineering, design and manufacturing".

The centre is staffed by volunteers and enthusiasts and features exhibits of vehicles and equipment, many of them on loan.

Recent exhibitions included a cutaway or 'sectioned' 1971 XY V8, originally shown at the Melbourne Motor Show that year and then used by the Victorian Police as a training tool.

The museum also houses concept vehicles such as the R7 Territory and the R5 Dual Cab Ute. Historic exhibits include a replica of Henry Ford's 1896 Quadricycle, a Model T and examples of Falcons through the decades.

The Discovery Centre will close its doors on July 29.