Oldest Holden museum in Australia to close in April

The National Holden Motor Museum – which it claims is the longest continuously-running museum in Australia dedicated to a single car manufacturer – in Victoria is due to close in April 2024.

The site's owners – located 230km north of Melbourne, in Echuca, Victoria – said in a Facebook post they failed to find a buyer for the museum.

Opened in 1984, the museum was first located in Bayswater before moving to its current location in 1993.

“Being a tourist town and open every day has taken it's [sic] toll on our personal lives, and wanting to keep the museum in Echuca we decided to offer it for sale,” Tony and Mark Galea said in the post.

“Unfortunately, no serious buyers came forward, so we will close on 14th April and auction the contents which belong to us on 18th May 2024. Most of the vehicles on display are loaned to us and will be leaving.”

The remaining vehicles in the collection will reportedly be sold off via Burns & Co. in an upcoming auction. 

According to the museum’s website, the collection ranges from the original Holden – the 48-215, also dubbed the FX – to the final Australian-made Commodore, the VF.

Other rarities including the first Monaro, the HSV 427 VE, and the VF Commodore SS ute which set a commercial-vehicle lap record on Germany's Nurburgring can also be seen in the collection. 

Following the closure of the National Holden Motor Museum, fans will still be able to see Holden’s history in other Australian museums including the Mildura Holden Museum in New South Wales, and the Trafalgar Holden Museum in Victoria.