Ford Motor Company Complex, Geelong

The Ford Motor Company Complex in Norlane is an assembly plant featuring steel-framed buildings with red brick facades dating from its establishment in 1925. Palm trees line the Melbourne Road entrance, framing the approach to the sprawling industrial site.

The facility opened in 1925 as one of Ford's earliest major manufacturing operations outside the United States. It became crucial to Australia's automotive development and shaped the country's industrial growth.

The plant served as a major employer for immigrant workers and their families who built their lives in Norlane. It shaped the community's identity through its role as the area's largest workplace for generations.

The complex on Melbourne Road is accessible and offers guided tours about automotive manufacturing heritage. Walking around the grounds gives visitors a full sense of the industrial site's scale and its vintage factory architecture.

Six Canary Island Palm trees line the entrance in a striking contrast to the industrial setting. Planted as part of the original design scheme, these tropical palms remain a distinctive and surprising feature that softens the appearance of the factory compound.

Location: City of Greater Geelong

Location: Victoria

Inception: 1925

Address: 365-455 Melbourne Road Norlane VIC 3214

GPS coordinates: -38.10069,144.35564

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:08