Labor Government Purchases Holden Site At Fishermans Bend

Published:
Tuesday 13 September 2016

The Andrews Labor Government has purchased the General Motors Holden (GMH) site at Fishermans Bend, paving the way for plans to develop a leading design and engineering precinct.

Fishermans Bend has been home to Victorian manufacturing, and the home of Holden, for more than 80 years.

The purchase of the site, right in the heart of Fishermans Bend, means more jobs, more investment, more research and more development.

We will bring together industry leaders in the cutting edge areas of aerospace, defence, marine design, automotive design, and more.

The Labor Government is in advanced talks with Holden about their future plans to remain on the site, as well as major global companies and leading education partners for the new development.

The entire site is 37.7 hectares or the equivalent of approximately nine CBD blocks and is just 5 kilometres from Melbourne's CBD.

The site will be the centrepiece of the Fishermans Bend Employment Precinct. Fishermans Bend will support 80,000 residents and 60,000 jobs by 2050.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan

“We will keep the spirit and ingenuity of Australian manufacturing alive and well at this iconic site with a new precinct for design, engineering and technology that will retain and create jobs for Victorians.”

“We have a clear vision for this historic site and the future of Fishermans Bend, which builds on our strengths in defence, education and advanced manufacturing.”

“This was a once in a generation opportunity to secure a site of this size and proximity to the CBD – we didn’t want to see it wasted.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Albert Park Martin Foley

“This announcement is a real game changer for the future planning of Fishermans Bend. High skilled knowledge jobs driving the jobs of the future will be central to the precinct.”