Former Holden site in South Australia converted into mushroom farm

Some five years after iconic car brand Holden ceased operations in Australia, the site of the last remaining manufacturing facility in the country has undergone a drastic rebrand.

Once known for building cars, the former Holden plant in Elizabeth, South Australia, will now become the mushroom capital of the country.

An extensive farm and processing plant worth more than 110 million dollars is now in the works on the old factory site, which is set to produce more than 20,000 tonnes of mushrooms and related products each year.

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The facility, run by Epicurean Food Group, will employ 350 full-time staff once the transformation is complete in 2024, with some small-scale production already underway.

Epicurean Food Group has made the huge move from its first mushroom farm in Bull Creek on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

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Trade and Investment Minister Nick Champion told 9News the move to Elizabeth is an effective repurposing of the old Holden site, which has sat dormant for more than five years.

"It's really important to the local community as well because these are jobs that people can get," he said.

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"Investment, jobs, life activity, research and development going on out here at the Lions Gate business park."

One former Holden employee, Daniel Higgins, said he was thrilled to be back onsite.

"It's good to be back," he told Nine News.

"It feels different to be back here again."

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