April 2000 marked the 75th anniversary of Ford Australia. Back in 1925 the first Ford production line started near the corner of Gheringhap Street and Brougham Streets before moving to a huge new facility in Norlane. This iconic factory on the entrance to Geelong is still home to the company’s stamping, casting, engine plant and much of their research, test and development facilities.
To celebrate this achievement the entire Geelong waterfront was turned into the biggest street party Geelong has ever seen. Over 2000 Ford vehicles from all across the country, bands, markets, fireworks, roaming entertainment, jet boats, racing identities and over 100,000 people joined together in the warm autumn sun and celebrated everything Ford.
The Ford Motor Company has been an integral part of Geelong since it began its Australian manufacturing operations here in 1925. The company has seen many changes since it began assembling Model T’s in a small wool store in Gheringhap Street. Like many huge corporations it faces some difficult challenges in the future, but one thing is for sure Ford has had the biggest impact on our city’s prosperity, being both major employer of generations of Geelong families and a very active corporate citizen. Their products have become part of the Australia, cars like the Falcon, the GT, and Geelong’s “World’s first” Utility, racing legends like Moffat, Johnston, the rivalry between the blue and the red on race day, have etched their place in Australia’s history and folklore
