One of the country’s most prolific and beloved automotive brands is celebrating its 100th anniversary in Australia.

Today marks a century of Ford’s official presence Down Under, with the famous Blue Oval contributing significantly to Australia’s story – and its economic growth – throughout the 20th century to today.

Arguably, its most beloved creation was the ute in 1934. A year prior, a farmer’s wife in Geelong famously wrote to Ford asking why there wasn’t a vehicle that would take the couple to church on a Sunday and the pigs to market on Monday – leading to designer Lew Bandt penning the world’s first ‘coupe utility’.

While Ford ended vehicle production in Australia back in October 2016, the company’s Australian arm continues to play a significant role – in both design and engineering.

Marking Ford Australia’s 100th birthday was the unveiling of the Ranger Super Duty, a heavy-duty version of the country’s most popular vehicle.

Over the decades, Ford Australia had the unique position of being able to cherry-pick models from the UK, North American, and Japanese markets, with local buyers embracing vehicles like the Transit van, the F-100, and the Ford Festiva.

But it was Australia’s own Ford models that solidified the brand here, as a fierce competition began between the Geelong-made Ford Falcon and the Holden Kingswood and the smaller Torana.

The ‘car power wars’ of the 1970s led to the creation of some of Australia’s most admired muscle cars, such as the Ford XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III – a vehicle designed as a homologation special for the Australian Touring Car Championship (now known as Supercars) – fitted with a 5.8-litre ‘Cleaveland’ V8 putting out an official 220kW (300hp).

However, it’s universally agreed the power outputs were dramatically underestimated, with the vehicle estimated to be making closer to 280kW (380hp). It wouldn’t be until the early 2000s when this was exceeded, with Ford Performance Vehicles releasing the BA GT with a 5.4-litre ‘Boss’ V8 making 290kW.

In the 1980s, the competition evolved into one of the greatest automotive rivalries in the world: Falcon versus Commodore, as the Blue Oval and the Red Lion wrestled control over V8 Supercar championships and the coveted Bathurst trophy.

It was common for families to align themselves with either Ford or Holden during that time, as Falcons and Commodores were the family car of choice for the nation. Even cities took sides.

Geelong, where the Falcon and Territory were manufactured, was known to be a Ford town – with the company once being the largest employer. While manufacturing no longer takes place, Ford remains the largest automotive employer in the country.

Ford’s anniversary also marks 100 years of partnership with the Geelong Cats football team – the longest-running in professional sport globally.

As part of the celebrations, Ford has announced a three-year partnership with the Australian Red Cross, worth $1.5 million.

The Ford Heritage Vault has also published thousands of digitised copies of brochures, magazines, press releases, and imagery, showcasing the brand’s extensive history in Australia.

“For 100 years, Ford and Australia have grown together,” Executive Chair Bill Ford said.

“Australia was one of the first markets we established outside North America. It was a key moment in making Ford truly global. It has been a centre of innovation, from the first truck or Ute, to the Falcon and Ranger, and always a pipeline of talent,” he said.

“Ford Australia may be 100 years old, but the road ahead is what excites me the most. Built on ingenuity, determination, and world-class innovation, the team in Australia is not just shaping the future, they are redefining what is possible.”