Laurence Hartnett

Sir Laurence John Hartnett (1898 to 1986) was a British engineer and businessman whose work shaped the Australian motor industry, and he is often called the Father of the Holden. Born in Woking, England, he trained with Vickers, served briefly as a probationary flying officer at the end of the First World War, and then ran a small motor business in south London before taking a post with Guthrie and Company in Singapore, where he distributed Buick cars. He later joined General Motors and went on to lead General Motors-Holden in Australia during the design and production of the first Australian-made car, the Holden 48-215. During the Second World War he was also involved in defence production, including at the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 1 January 1945 and was knighted in 1967. After leaving the company he was involved in later car ventures such as the Lloyd-Hartnett and in promoting Nissan in Australia. This entry rests on his English Wikipedia article alone and a second source pass is owed.