Hume City Council may be millions of dollars behind in collecting overdue rates, but that hasn’t stopped it putting plans in gear to celebrate the Ford Motor Company – which shut its Broadmeadows factory nearly a decade ago.
City councillors have voted to progress plans to commemorate Ford Australia’s 100-year anniversary, focusing on the carmaker’s role in Broadmeadows and its influence on Melbourne’s north.
Under the adopted motion, council will consider funding “commemorative light boxes” featuring illuminated images of classic Ford vehicles and the former Broadmeadows assembly plant, to be installed in the Fordgate shopping precinct.
The project – estimated to cost around $80,000 – will be referred to the 2026–27 council budget for consideration.
The decision follows a Notice of Motion by Cllr Joseph Haddad, who called on council to recognise the centenary of Ford and to explore ways to showcase the city’s automotive manufacturing history.
Earlier ideas – including bronze statues of Ford Falcons or GTs – were ruled out after officers warned of the “high cost, risk of theft and vandalism, and potential reputational risk” of appearing to favour a single commercial brand. One such proposal carried an indicative price tag of $350,000.
Instead, councillors endorsed the more affordable light-box concept as a creative nod to Ford’s legacy. The displays would draw on council’s existing civic photo collection and could be refreshed every two years.
Hume officers acknowledged that Ford Australia has expressed interest in the concept but has not committed to co-funding or supporting any project at this stage. Council CEO Sheena Frost is writing to Ford asking it to go Dutch on the deal and seek copyright permission.
The Broadmeadows factory, which opened in 1959 and closed in 2016, once employed more than 2,000 workers. It produced the Falcon, Capri, Laser, and Territory models.
Cllr Naim Kurt said the Ford Motor Company has got plenty of cash.
“This is a win for tourism,” he said. “It’s a win for shopping precincts. It’s a win for heritage and it’s a win for celebrating some iconography of our old city council, and of yesteryear as well.
“I know that the Ford Motor Company has got deep pockets.”
Cllr Haddad said: “Ford’s history is Hume’s history. Generations of families worked at Broadmeadows. It deserves to be remembered.”
Council officers said any spending would depend on future budget approval and could be partly offset by heritage or tourism grants.
If approved next year, the Fordgate light boxes could be installed in 2026, coinciding with other centenary exhibitions at Broadmeadows Museum. https://broadmeadowsmuseum.org.au