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Ford left Geelong in 2016. The city replaced its whole economy inside a decade.

  • 91 years of car-making ended 7 October 2016
  • Manufacturing jobs grew fastest, 2 years running
  • GRP: $21.5bn, growing 3.9%/year
  • 2030 jobs target hit 4 years early
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← The Australia series

How Geelong’s tech scene grew

A closure, a rebuild, and the growth data that shows it actually worked.

Ford begins manufacturing in Geelong

Ninety-one years of local car-making followed.

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What replaced Ford

Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus, with more than 8,000 students, anchors the Geelong Technology and Future Economy Precinct, focused on advanced manufacturing, materials and energy research, including the Advanced Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre. Major current employers include Barwon Health, with more than 8,700 staff, GMHBA — a Geelong-headquartered health insurer — Deakin University, and Viva Energy’s Geelong Refinery.

Manufacturing posted the largest employment growth for a second straight year, adding 1,235 jobs to June 2025, ahead of health care (+868) and education (+583). Geelong is the clearest case in this series of a city that fully replaced its economic base and came out growing faster than most of the country for it.

Where the work happens

A university precinct and three large employers that didn’t exist in the city’s Ford-era economy.

Deakin University, Waurn Ponds

Anchors the Geelong Technology and Future Economy Precinct — advanced manufacturing, materials and energy research.

Barwon Health

More than 8,700 staff — one of the city’s largest employers post-Ford.

GMHBA

A Geelong-headquartered health insurer, part of the diversified post-Ford employer base.

Viva Energy Geelong Refinery

A major current employer alongside the health and education sector.

How Geelong businesses buy digital work

A business built around the old Ford-era economy is presenting itself to a city that has, in measurable terms, moved on. Geelong’s workforce has genuinely turned over — from car-plant manufacturing to advanced manufacturing, health and higher education — inside less than a decade, with the growth data to show the transition succeeded.

Trades and home services

Name the suburbs you cover. A growing, changing city where new residents are actively searching.

Clinics, salons and studios

Online booking and published prices, standard for a fast-growing regional city.

Advanced manufacturing and technical supply

The fastest-growing employment category two years running. Lead with modern, relevant capability.

Shops, cafés and hospitality

A growing population base. Real hours and location on the page.

The full piece

Geelong: Ford left in 2016. The city replaced its whole economy inside a decade.

Digital market analysis•2 min read

The closure

Ford manufactured cars in Geelong from 1925. The stamping plant closed in March 2016, and Ford ended all Australian manufacturing — including Geelong's engine plant — on 7 October 2016, ending 91 years of local car-making and affecting around 2,000 Geelong jobs.

What replaced it

Deakin University's Waurn Ponds campus, with more than 8,000 students, anchors the Geelong Technology and Future Economy Precinct, focused on advanced manufacturing, materials and energy research, including the Advanced Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre. Major current employers include Barwon Health, with more than 8,700 staff, GMHBA (a Geelong-headquartered health insurer), Deakin University, and Viva Energy's Geelong Refinery.

The result, measured

Greater Geelong's population reached 295,052 as of 30 June 2025, growing 2.2% year on year, with Gross Regional Product at $21.5 billion, growing 3.9% a year over five years — the fourth-fastest rate among Australia's large regional and capital cities. Manufacturing posted the largest employment growth for a second straight year, adding 1,235 jobs to June 2025, ahead of health care (+868) and education (+583).

The buyer

A city whose workforce has genuinely turned over — from car-plant manufacturing to advanced manufacturing, health and higher education — inside less than a decade, with the growth data to show the transition succeeded rather than merely happened.

The practical read

Geelong is the clearest case in this series of a city that fully replaced its economic base and came out growing faster than most of the country for it. A business built around the old Ford-era economy is presenting itself to a city that has, in measurable terms, moved on.

Sources

Caveats and sourcing

  • Verifiable — the Ford closure dates and affected jobs, the named current employers, and all population and GRP growth figures.

How well do you know Geelong’s digital economy?

Geelong quiz · 1 of 5

When did Ford end all Australian manufacturing, including in Geelong?

Why FastSites works here

A city that rebuilt its whole economy inside a decade understands the value of moving fast rather than waiting. A published price and a site live in days fits that pace.

Built mobile-first and light. Tell us which part of Geelong’s new economy you serve.

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