Gold Coast business: Holden sign comes down off von Bibra dealership in Robina
One of the last remnants of the Holden name on the Gold Coast has been torn down signalling the “end of an era”.
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ONE of the last remnants of the Holden name on the Gold Coast has been torn down signalling the “end of an era”.
On Monday the sign came off the von Bibra Holden dealership in Robina on Brabham Circuit where it hung for 23 years.
Avid fans of the first generation of Commodores from 1978 to 1988 gathered at the dealership on the weekend for a final parade of the iconic Australian car in front of the building.
“It confirms the end of an era. We have been through a rollercoaster ride. It’s the final nail in the coffin,” von Bibra Group general manager Wade von Bibra said.
“The (South East Queensland Early Commodores) club had asked if they could come down and get some photos before the sign came down.
“There were 50 to 60 Commodores down here on site. That was great.”
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The von Bibra Group acquired the Robina dealership from Paul van Riet in 2007 who built it in 1997 spending $7 million.
Thirteen years later and the Holden brand had come to the end of the road.
General Motors Holden decided to discontinue the Holden brand in Australia in February, citing a fragmented right-hand-drive market in Australia that left it without a viable investment return. GM said it would honour all warranties and would continue to provide service and parts.
Dealers were locked in a dispute with GMH over the size of a package to compensate them for the investment they made in the brand and their dealerships.
The dealers, which included Mr von Bibra, eventually accepted the offer of $1500 per vehicle sold by their dealerships between 2017 and 2019.
Von Bibra had two Holden dealerships: one in Robina and one in Southport.
The Southport dealership was to be turned into a second-hand vehicle showroom while the Robina property’s workshop would be used for service and parts for Holden vehicles.
Mr von Bibra said the site would also be used for pre-delivery inspections but he had not decided what to do with the showroom.
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