Porsche rocks 70 years in Australia

Port Melbourne, not far from where Norman Hamilton first introduced two Porsche 356s to Australia 70 years ago, rocked to the sounds of 450 special guests celebrating Porsche’s 70th year in Australia.

MC Tommy Little introduced video messages from Detlev von Platen, member of the Porsche AG Executive Board responsible for Sales and Marketing; and Mark Webber, nine-time Formula One Grand Prix winner, World Endurance Champion, and Porsche Brand Ambassador. Many other special guests embraced the event, with current and former Porsche racing drivers including Jim Richards. Guests mingled among a curated range of classic Porsche cars from the 1950s to the present day, a highlight being the special commemorative Porsche 911 GT3 70 Years Porsche Australia Edition. This car is also a history-maker as it represents the first time Porsche has produced an Australia-specific edition. Entertainment was a highlight of the dinner and celebrations with three major entertainment pieces, two harking back to key eras from Porsche’s seven decades in Australia – the '50s to the '60s and the '70s to the '90s, then one focused on today and the future. A commemorative book was produced to mark the company’s seven decades charting the history of Porsche 'Down Under' with a special collection of images and stories. •