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General Motors
History
HistoryBeginning in 1926, General Motors occupied an assembly plant in Petone, and assembled Chevrolet and Vauxhall cars there, and possibly Holdens. This operation closed when a new factory was built in Alexander Road, and the Petone building was used for tyre storage and distribution by Dunlop from 1988 to 1994. Parts of the site are now occupied by Fletcher Steel and the Fairfax Media plant which produces the 'Dominion Post' and community newspapers.
A five-bay parts warehouse and office block designed by Wellington's Structon Group were built in Railway Avenue in 1953; the office block also housed a model kitchen to demonstrate the company's range of 'Frigidaire' products.The warehouse was expanded by three bays in 1960.
The company changed its name to Holden NZ in July 1994, to reduce the confusion over its varous brands.
The Railway Avenue site was acquired by South Pacific Tyres in 1994 as a tyre warehouse and head office, and a few Goodyear Dunlop New Zealand staff still occupy offices.
The 'Leader' reported the Alexander Road head office 'topping out' on April 27, 1966, and the official opening, by the Prime Minister on August 25, 1967, on August 30, 1967.
The last car rolled out in December 1990; light-truck production lasted seven more years; the December 23, 1997 'Leader' announced the closure.
The June 23, 1999 'Leader' announced that the Alexander Road head office would close on the 30th and move to Auckland; Christchurch's John Shivas had bought the 35 hectare site, and vehicle distribution would continue, run by Car Haulaways; Linfox Logistics would handle parts and accessories.
The army occupied the administration block.
Terralink, a state-owned enterprise, had contracted with EDS to put paper titles onto computer, and greatly under-estimated the cost; as a result, it went into receivership in January 2001, with 69 staff being made redundant at Alexander Road; they had other sites in Goodshed Road, and in Wellington and Palmerston North. Terralink had beenbought by New Zealand Aerial Mapping and Animation Research Ltd by mid-May.
Occupants of the 37 000 square metre factory building included Matrix Homes, manufacturing transportable homes; the company increased the area it was using to 12 000 square metres in 2015.
The Weta group of companies had leased up to half the plant at various times, primarily for storage; parts of 'The Hobbit' had been filmed there in 2012. The November 18, 2015 'Leader' announced the group had bought the factory building; John Shivas did not know Weta's intentions.
Other parts of the land were subdivided, with some sold. In July 2018 Matrix Homes was put into receivership; 30 workers were redundant, and redundancy pay and holiday pay might not be forthcoming.
A five-bay parts warehouse and office block designed by Wellington's Structon Group were built in Railway Avenue in 1953; the office block also housed a model kitchen to demonstrate the company's range of 'Frigidaire' products.The warehouse was expanded by three bays in 1960.
The company changed its name to Holden NZ in July 1994, to reduce the confusion over its varous brands.
The Railway Avenue site was acquired by South Pacific Tyres in 1994 as a tyre warehouse and head office, and a few Goodyear Dunlop New Zealand staff still occupy offices.
The 'Leader' reported the Alexander Road head office 'topping out' on April 27, 1966, and the official opening, by the Prime Minister on August 25, 1967, on August 30, 1967.
The last car rolled out in December 1990; light-truck production lasted seven more years; the December 23, 1997 'Leader' announced the closure.
The June 23, 1999 'Leader' announced that the Alexander Road head office would close on the 30th and move to Auckland; Christchurch's John Shivas had bought the 35 hectare site, and vehicle distribution would continue, run by Car Haulaways; Linfox Logistics would handle parts and accessories.
The army occupied the administration block.
Terralink, a state-owned enterprise, had contracted with EDS to put paper titles onto computer, and greatly under-estimated the cost; as a result, it went into receivership in January 2001, with 69 staff being made redundant at Alexander Road; they had other sites in Goodshed Road, and in Wellington and Palmerston North. Terralink had beenbought by New Zealand Aerial Mapping and Animation Research Ltd by mid-May.
Occupants of the 37 000 square metre factory building included Matrix Homes, manufacturing transportable homes; the company increased the area it was using to 12 000 square metres in 2015.
The Weta group of companies had leased up to half the plant at various times, primarily for storage; parts of 'The Hobbit' had been filmed there in 2012. The November 18, 2015 'Leader' announced the group had bought the factory building; John Shivas did not know Weta's intentions.
Other parts of the land were subdivided, with some sold. In July 2018 Matrix Homes was put into receivership; 30 workers were redundant, and redundancy pay and holiday pay might not be forthcoming.
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Organisation typeMotor vehicle assembly and salesDate established1926Geotag[1] The Railway Avenue warehouse[2] The Alexander Road plant
Date established1926Geotag[1] The Railway Avenue warehouse[2] The Alexander Road plantAlso known as
Alternative nameHoldenFor the years1st January 1994
For the years1st January 1994loading google map....
General Motors. Upper Hutt City Library, accessed 04/10/2024, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/23822