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GM HOLDEN has confirmed that one of its first and longest-serving dealerships has closed without replacement, after Muirs Holden in Sydney’s inner-west last month ceased its 72 years of trading on the same premises.

Opened in 1946 by brothers Tony, Les and Ron Muir, the Holden dealer on Parramatta Road, Haberfield, was one of Sydney’s most centrally located sellers, set just eight kilometers west of the CBD in what has become a fierce battleground for rivals.

Since run by Les’ son John, and his son Matthew Muir, the family in September 2017 confirmed that they were determined to relocate the business after the location was acquired by the state government’s WestConnex motorway project.

However, this did not eventuate as no suitable alternative premises was found.

Speaking with 2GB radio last month, John Muir revealed that Alan Jones had attended the farewell party for the family dealer, which also ran Muirs Kia.

“It was a very sad and very emotional time. We tried to relocate but we couldn’t find anything in our prime market area (PMA) or that was financially viable,” he told the broadcaster’s Ray Hadley.

“So unfortunately as the saying goes, ‘all good things come to a close’ and we have at the moment. (But) let me tell you that the Holdens imported from overseas, it is a great car, fantastic.

“Unfortunately in this country we talk about a level playing field … in manufacturing, well, it’s not on. Because like playing tennis, Australians have one hand behind their backs. Labour costs are so inexpensive in other parts of the world, Australians can’t compete.”

GM Holden communications director Anna Betts told GoAutoNews Premium that it “was supportive of Muirs intention to find new premises but unfortunately they didn’t find one”.

However, Ms Betts added that GM Holden also “don’t have anything to share from a broader Sydney operations perspective”.

The closure of Muirs Kia has been quickly replaced by a new Phil Gilbert Kia dealer this month opening one kilometre further west on Parramatta Road, however an equivalent inner-west Holden dealer will no longer exist at all.

After several decades of service, Suttons Homebush last year closed its premises further west on Parramatta Road, with Suttons Nissan stepping in at the site.

Suttons retain a strong presence with Holden, however, and its three outlets remain nearest to the closed Muirs Holden, with Suttons City Rosebery placed 10km east, Suttons Arncliffe 10km south, and Suttons Chullora 10km south-west.

However, where Holden just last year had two dealers – Suttons Homebush and Muirs Holden – along the key Parramatta Road battleground towards Sydney’s second largest city, Parramatta, it joins Ford without an inner-west presence.

By comparison, Toyota has three dealers – Sydney City Toyota in Glebe, Phil Gilbert Toyota in both Croydon and Lidcombe – while Hyundai has two, and Audi, Jaguar Land Rover, Honda, Kia, Mazda, Renault and VW have one.

As previously reported, GM Holden had announced it would not be renewing contracts with some dealers following a significant sales downturn.

By Daniel DeGasperi

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