According to a former advertising campaign, Australians loved "football, meat pies, kangaroos and Holden cars".

The announcement that parent company General Motors would axe the famous brand by the end of 2021 comes less than three years after Holden ended its Australian manufacturing operations.

But there was a time when the manufacturer dominated the local market and even exported cars to Asia, rather than the other way around.

The cars have left their mark on the country, creating memories of summer holidays, first cars and first dates.

Here's a look back at some of the famous Holden names.

'She's a beauty': The first Holden

Then-prime minister Ben Chifley unveils the first Holden vehicle wholly manufactured in Australia in 1948. ( Supplied: National Museum of Australia )

The Holden 48-215, which became known as the FX, was its first vehicle wholly manufactured in Australia.

Before then, Holden had made car bodies or manufactured cars using American parts.

Due to being cut off from some supplies during World War II, the Chifley government determined Australia should build its own car.

This was to avoid reliance on overseas supply chains, to provide work and rebuild the post-war economy.

Prime minister Ben Chifley officially unveiled the car on November 29, 1948, at Fishermans Bend in Port Melbourne, saying "She's a beauty".

The FX was a robust and economical family sedan, designed for the Australian environment and sold for $733 (including tax), which was equivalent to 94 weeks' wages for the average worker.

The car was an instant success and Holden could not satisfy demand.

The top seller — HQ Kingswood

The HQ Kingswood was Holden's highest-selling vehicle. ( Supplied: Wikimedia Commons/ GTHO )

Produced between 1971 and 1974, the Holden HQ Kingswood is the manufacturer's highest-selling model.

Some 485,650 cars were sold at a time when Australia had a population of around 13 million people.

The Kingswood name was immortalised in the 1980s comedy Kingswood Country, with lead character Ted Bullpit frequently denying family members the chance to use his pride and joy.

"The Kingswood! You're not taking the Kingswood."

The Kingswood nameplate was eventually phased out in 1984 for the popular Commodore.

First Bathurst win — Holden Monaro

The Holden Monaro won Bathurst and plenty of hearts after being unveiled in 1968. ( Supplied )

Arriving in 1968, Holden's sporty Monaro turned heads.

It was fast, and in the same year claimed Holden's first victory at Mount Panorama in the race then known as the Bathurst 500, also winning pole position and the fastest lap.

It also became the first coupe to win Wheels magazine's Car of the Year.

A year later, a newer version of the Monaro featured the first Australian-made V8 engine.

Holden produced three generations of the famous name, the later coming between 2001 and 2005 after enthusiastic support of a Commodore concept coupe displayed at the 1998 Sydney Motor Show.

It was sold by Vauxhall in the United Kingdom and in 2004, was awarded Top Gear magazine's best muscle car.

Original Monaros can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars at auctions, as demonstrated in 2018.

Brash and powerful — HSV Maloo ute

The HSV Maloo was a ute on steriods. ( Supplied: Wikimedia Commons/ Hugh Llewelyn )

The ute has always been considered an Australian icon for tradies and the Holden V8 Maloo was the ute on steroids.

While the Holden Rodeo may have been a more practical and cheaper option, the Holden Special Vehicles team produced this monster.

Hallmarked by sleek lines and an iconic hardtop tray cover, the Maloo R8 was the peak of power combined with practicality and the R8 models specifically were powerful machines.

Arguably the Z and E Series models of the mid to late naughties are the icons of this variety that may be well remembered.

The last Maloo off the line, the 2017 R8N LSA, was made to celebrate 30 years of HSV in Australia and was coloured spitfire green.

It was hard to miss even if the cost of $79,990 was prohibitive, and it is the last of an iconic line.

Holden Commodore — Popular and lasting

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 1 minute 3 seconds 1 m 3 s The last Holden Commodore rolled off local production lines in 2017.

It won races and captured hearts.

The Holden Commodore was first launched in 1978 and will be among the last of the brand sold in Australia.

Millions of Commodores have sold over the last 42 years and they are as popular on the racetrack as they are off it, being driven to 16 touring car and Supercar championships and 26 Bathurst victories.

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It was also the best-selling vehicle in Australia for 15 consecutive years until 2011.

By 2012 though, it had been overtaken by Mazda as the tastes and demands of Australian drivers changed.

It was also the last vehicle Holden made in Australia, with the final Holden produced at its Elizabeth plant rolling off the line on October 20, 2017.