Historic Holden site under threat

As Holden prepares to shut down, the garage where its most famous racing team was first based could soon be knocked down.

The garage, at 33-35 Queens Avenue in the inner-east Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn, was the original home of the Holden Dealer Team (HDT) when it was formed in 1969.

It is now slated for demolition to make way for a $7 million six-storey commercial development.

Famed racers such as Bathurst master Peter Brock, Colin Bond and John Harvey all raced for the HDT when it was based out of Queens Ave under the direction of famed former racer and team owner Harry Firth.

Firth first purchased the site in the early 1960s when he was deeply involved in Ford’s factory touring car efforts. He was relieved of those duties at the end of the 1968 season and was immediately signed up by Holden.

Firth ran the HDT out of Queens Ave until the end of the 1977 season, when it moved to North Melbourne under John Sheppard’s control.

Firth sold the workshop in 1978 to renowned engine builder Ian Tate, who in turn sold it in 2000.

“I reckoned it was going to go sooner or later because the place next door has gone for high-rises or whatever,” Tate told carsales.

“I hope they keep the façade there at least.”

Sadly, that does not appear to be the case. Reputedly first built in the 19th century as a Cobb & Co coach stopping station, the Hawthorn site has no historical overlays, which means no elements of the original design such as the façade need to be retained.

Any objections to the development have to be lodged by March 25 with the City of Boroondara, with a final decision due within a couple of months.

Image: Gary Clarke