Here's your chance to own a piece of Holden history after museum closure

Australia’s oldest Holden museum closed its doors on April 14, 2024, and now a diverse collection of vehicles housed there are heading to auction.

Auctioneers from Burns & Co are putting vehicles and memorabilia from the National Holden Motor Museum collection up on the blocks this weekend, 18-19 May.

The auction will be conducted on site at the now-closed museum at 7-11 Warren Street, Echuca.

On Saturday from 8am, Lots 1 to 600 are up for auction. There’s a vast array of different items, including everything from original dealership and workshop signage and fittings to engines and gearboxes.

On Sunday from 9am, Lots 601 to 731 will be auctioned, and these are the big-ticket items: the cars themselves.

These include highly collectable Holdens like the HQ Sandman and GTS 350 Coupe and a 48-215, the first Holden car.

There’s also one of just three HJ Statesman Coupes ever built (pictured above), as well as an HSV SV90 Statesman (pictured below).

Burns & Co says there will be no opportunity to start or attempt to start any of the vehicles, but many are being offered without a reserve.

You can view more information on the auctions, including the full catalogue, at the Burns & Co website.

The National Holden Motor Museum first opened in Bayswater, Victoria in 1984, moving to Echuca in 1993. It touted itself as the longest continuously running single-make museum in Australia.

Owners Tony and Mark Galea decided to put it up for sale as they said running the museum took a toll on their personal lives, given it was open every day and situated in a tourist town.

With no buyer able to be found, the men decided to auction off the museum’s contents.

MORE: Australia’s oldest Holden museum is closing its doors