Historic Events - Ford Australia's 75th Anniversary - April 2nd 2000

Ford Australia started its Australian operations in a old wool store in Gheringhap Street, opposite where the Ford Discovery Centre now stands.

So it was fitting Geelong was chosen to be the focus of Ford Australia's 75th Anniversary.

In the days leading up to the 'biggest' street party Geelong has ever seen a series of rallies were organised from all points of Australia which all ended up in Geelong.  After a spin around Ford's top secret Proving Ground and a fireworks and entertainment spectacular on the Saturday night over 2400 vehicles assembled on Geelong's waterfront for the Sunday event.
 

Beautiful weather greeted the estimated 70,000 people who visited the waterfront for the Birthday celebration on the Sunday.

As well as every type of Ford vehicle imaginable, visitors were entertained by bands, cultural community groups, high powered jet boats, extreme sport demonstrations and many other family orientated events.

The event, Geelong's biggest to date, stretched all from Eastern Beach right around the waterfront, down Cunningham Pier, up to the Ford Discovery Centre and around Western Beach Road towards Rippleside.

A historic ferry and busses were used to ship people from car parking miles away.