Discovery Centre to close

[mr smith]

Due for closure at the end of the month
http://www.forddiscovery.com/news/centre-closure.htm

[Polyal]

Ah what? Thts a shame. Seems thy ill continue elsewhere though? Thy should bung on an addition to PEO

[SPArKy_Dave]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.......... Ford Australia - WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!!!!

[RSgerry]

thats a shame. i was there a few years ago and loved it. i hope they can come up with something worthwhile to replace it.

[SPArKy_Dave]

I wonder where the EA GT, EL Predator, XH Sandfire ute and XH Terra offroad ute will go?

Not to mention the half XB sedan, and other unique offerings.
What's going to happen to their archives section?

[Geez Louise]

It says 29th of July...that is the end of NEXT month. Still a shame though...

[XD 351 Ute]

Man, that's really bad.
I spent a whole day there when I last went to Melbourne, and couldn't get enough of the place.
I call dibs on the Terra ute too.
All the best to the many people that have made it what it is.

Ed

[Geez Louise]

Full Story

Originally Posted by Ford Discovery Centre

Centre set to close

FORD DISCOVERY CENTRE ANNOUNCEMENT

The Directors of the Trust of the Ford Discovery Centre (FDC) regretfully advise that the FDC will officially close its doors to the public on Sunday July 29 2012.
For 13 years, the Centre has provided an outstanding education experience to more than 250,000 visitors, the Geelong community and those interested in automotive engineering and manufacturing. However a recent review, combined with ever-changing needs in the museum industry, has shown that the Centre cannot continue to evolve and expand in its current form.


Both partners in the Ford Discovery Heritage Trust (Ford Australia and Deakin University) will now look for alternative ways in which to continue highlighting our joint history of cutting-edge engineering, design and manufacturing.


The Directors thank the staff and volunteers of the Centre, who have been instrumental in its success to date, for their contribution. They also thank the many enthusiasts who have loaned their vehicles and other displays to the Centre since its inception. The Directors will now work closely with staff, volunteers and enthusiasts to manage a strategic and orderly wind-down
of operations and the return of loaned exhibits and vehicles.

[mr smith]

Originally Posted by Geez Louise

It says 29th of July...that is the end of NEXT month. Still a shame though...

Yea the end of the month....of July. Give me some slack I got a killer flu and a bit

[Nikked]

Dibs on the EA GT

[EDManual]

Thats terrible news!!
I love that place!

[dcstraight]

That is sad to hear - have been there on a few occasions and always with something interesting to take-in, along with revisiting things of yester-year.

Presumably our decline in economy is the 'just cause' here?

"Ever-changing needs in the museum industry" <-- would be interesting to know what that entails exactly.

[Road_Warrior]

You cannot be serious...they had better preserve all of those exhibits, or I'll personally punch Bob Graziano in the balls.

[Resurrection]

Ford marketing at its finest *end sarcasm*

[GK]

I call dibs on all the AU gear!

I really enjoyed my visit with some other AUvians a year or two ago.

Will be a shame to see it closed.

GK

[rjr]

Thats very disappointing.

[madwag]

since i have never been, Im thinking a cruise down for one last visit?

[EFFalcon]

time to send some offers.

some cars i'd own :P

[TheInterceptor]

Well thats ******* bull**** i was planning to go, never got the chance...and it looks like i never will.

Good one Ford. Thanks a bunch.

[1970XW351]

Pffft, what a rip!! It's always been one of those "one day" things to take a road trip to Melbourneo and see the centre.... Unfortunately finances and other pesky real world things have gotten in the way previously.... Ah well, maybe a 2 day return road trip is in order in the next couple weeks and hang the cost... ... Goddamn budget constraints.... mind you, 250,000 visitors in 13 years... that's what, 62 visitors a day (ignoring public holidays), assuming those people were all adults, that's $558 a day, which would hardly cover wages of the non volunteers, let alone rent, electricity, upkeep, blah blah blah...... So it makes a good business plan, but it is yet another reduction in Ford's presence that will undoubtedly have a negative impact on the brand... Anyone from Queensland interested in a cruise down some weekend in the next month, lol?

[madwag]

Originally Posted by 1970XW351

Pffft, what a rip!! It's always been one of those "one day" things to take a road trip to Melbourneo and see the centre.... Unfortunately finances and other pesky real world things have gotten in the way previously.... Ah well, maybe a 2 day return road trip is in order in the next couple weeks and hang the cost... ... Goddamn budget constraints.... mind you, 250,000 visitors in 13 years... that's what, 62 visitors a day (ignoring public holidays), assuming those people were all adults, that's $558 a day, which would hardly cover wages of the non volunteers, let alone rent, electricity, upkeep, blah blah blah...... So it makes a good business plan, but it is yet another reduction in Ford's presence that will undoubtedly have a negative impact on the brand... Anyone from Queensland interested in a cruise down some weekend in the next month, lol?

Meet me in Melbourne and ill come for the stretch to gelong and back

[Ford_The_Win]

Originally Posted by madwag

since i have never been, Im thinking a cruise down for one last visit?

I went there a while back since it's local, it's worth a bit of a cruise down the freeway for.

[flooded one]

thats ashame. always wanted to go there but wont be able too now

[Moby Vic]

Dammit! I was planning to visit there in October.

[mik]

that`s a shame indeed, i have been only once to the fdc, but enjoyed it very much, another good thing winding up .

[ego gtp]

went there on sunday with the orsm club what a shame its a great place cheers gary

[Trek]

and one of the last few awesome things about Geelong dies... this is not what I wanted to read when I got home :/

[HULK EF]

considers myself lucky as a Sydney sider who has been down and visited allready. Shame!!!

[FGX-351]

Originally Posted by 1970XW351

Pffft, what a rip!! It's always been one of those "one day" things to take a road trip to Melbourneo and see the centre.... Unfortunately finances and other pesky real world things have gotten in the way previously.... Ah well, maybe a 2 day return road trip is in order in the next couple weeks and hang the cost... ... Goddamn budget constraints.... mind you, 250,000 visitors in 13 years... that's what, 62 visitors a day (ignoring public holidays), assuming those people were all adults, that's $558 a day, which would hardly cover wages of the non volunteers, let alone rent, electricity, upkeep, blah blah blah...... So it makes a good business plan, but it is yet another reduction in Ford's presence that will undoubtedly have a negative impact on the brand... Anyone from Queensland interested in a cruise down some weekend in the next month, lol?

Im keen!

[cobramania]

I was there last year after my FPV/FPR visit, excellent place, really disappointing to hear abut the closure though.
My 4 & 8 year old nephews are huge Ford fans & love my Cobra, (so they tell me every time they get in, & every chance they get to go for a ride), I would've loved to take them there in a couple of years.

Deakin Uni. owns the building it's in, & probably want to use it for something else, & can probably get more bigger grants (money) using it for education/research, instead of a Ford museum?

I know there's a history with Ford & Geelong, but it's probably in the wrong place there, (not a real touristy part of Geelong either). I think it would be much better suited, & have more visitors in Melbourne, not necessarily at Broadmedows, but Ford could make some money & promotions putting it on the HQ site, along with FPV & FPR, & doing guided factory tours with the discovery centre/museum/gift shop at the end of the tour.