Dream Factory: GMH Design at Fishermans Bend 1964-2020
A stunning exhibition that goes behind the scenes of Australia's most important industrial design studio and birthplace of GMH iconic cars at Fishermans Bend, Melbourne
From Aussie classics to contemporary concept cars, Dream Factory takes a tour through almost 60 years of design by way of rarely seen drawings, models, photographs, film and memories from key designers, showcasing one of Australia's most important industrial design studios, the Technical Centre, at Fishermans Bend.
Home to Melbourne's most successful city-based automotive factory, the Technical Centre - opened in 1964 and gave us the HK Monaro, HQ Statesman, VE Commodore, the Bathurst Toranas and the eye-catching Hurricane concept car.
Dream Factory is a celebration of form and function and demonstrates how the successful design and production of complex industrial objects put Australia on the post war global stage of automotive design, says curator Harriet Edquist, AM
Venue: City Gallery
Address: Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston Street, Melbourne
Date: 17 May - 31 August
Time: 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday
Ticket: FREE
Web: https://whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au/things-to-do/dream-factory-gmh-design-at-fishermans-bend-1964-2020
Address: Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston Street, Melbourne
Date: 17 May - 31 August
Time: 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday
Ticket: FREE
Web: https://whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au/things-to-do/dream-factory-gmh-design-at-fishermans-bend-1964-2020
The drawings on display represent the work of nine designers covering a span of more than 50 years. Accompanied by quotations about style, technique and intent, the exhibition explores the activity of design and Australia's industrial design history.
The Fishermans Bend studio is emblematic of the area's strong history of research, design and technical innovation, determining what came off the production lines in Melbourne and other GMH production centres in Australia.
It was one of only three GM design centres in the world, the other two located in Detroit, the home of GM and in Rüsselsheim am Main, Germany.
The launch of the Technical Centre in June 1964 coincided with the opening in Germany. On launch day, the public were allowed to visit the buildings, to walk freely among its exhibits, then from that day on, the studios were forever closed to the public.
The Technical centre was an integral part of Australia's booming post-war manufacturing sector, demanding new plants, specialised facilities and head offices. Melbourne based architects Stephenson & Turner were commissioned to design the Technical Centre in their well-tuned idiom of rationalist modernism. Plans for the building and interior artwork are also on display.
Dream Factory also features a commissioned work by ceramicist Jia Jia Chen, Dream my Monaro. The scale model is both a homage to those who lovingly embellish their cars, and an envisioning of Jia Jia's own dream machine' fabrication.
The City of Melbourne is proud to present Dream Factory in the City Gallery, to shine a light on the highly successful and important era of design excellence nationally and internationally, all from within the city perimeter.
The City Gallery is a small exhibition space in Melbourne Town Hall which features central Melbourne-themed exhibitions. It commonly draws on Council's own collection as well as external loans.
The Fishermans Bend studio is emblematic of the area's strong history of research, design and technical innovation, determining what came off the production lines in Melbourne and other GMH production centres in Australia.
It was one of only three GM design centres in the world, the other two located in Detroit, the home of GM and in Rüsselsheim am Main, Germany.
The launch of the Technical Centre in June 1964 coincided with the opening in Germany. On launch day, the public were allowed to visit the buildings, to walk freely among its exhibits, then from that day on, the studios were forever closed to the public.
The Technical centre was an integral part of Australia's booming post-war manufacturing sector, demanding new plants, specialised facilities and head offices. Melbourne based architects Stephenson & Turner were commissioned to design the Technical Centre in their well-tuned idiom of rationalist modernism. Plans for the building and interior artwork are also on display.
Dream Factory also features a commissioned work by ceramicist Jia Jia Chen, Dream my Monaro. The scale model is both a homage to those who lovingly embellish their cars, and an envisioning of Jia Jia's own dream machine' fabrication.
The City of Melbourne is proud to present Dream Factory in the City Gallery, to shine a light on the highly successful and important era of design excellence nationally and internationally, all from within the city perimeter.
The City Gallery is a small exhibition space in Melbourne Town Hall which features central Melbourne-themed exhibitions. It commonly draws on Council's own collection as well as external loans.