- Nissan Australia marks 60 years since its inauguration on 6 September 1966
- More than 2 million Nissan and Datsun vehicles delivered to Australian customers
- More than 170 vehicles gathered at Mulgrave, spanning every generation of Patrol and Z, alongside a rare 1966 Silvia and the Australian public debut of the all-new Navara Pro Plug-in Hybrid
MELBOURNE, Australia — Nissan marked 60 years of operations in Australia on Saturday, bringing more than 170 Nissan, Datsun, INFINITI and Prince vehicles to its headquarters in Mulgrave, Victoria.
Almost all were privately owned, with owners travelling from as far as Sydney and Adelaide to celebrate six decades of Nissan in Australia.
Supported by the Nissan Datsun Sports Owners Club, the Classic Skyline Club of Australia, several Z owner groups and Skyline Australia, the event brought together every generation of Patrol and Z, a broad mix of Australian-delivered and Japanese-market models, and the first public appearance in Australia of the all-new Navara Pro Plug-in Hybrid.
Sixty years of the company, 92 years of the badge
While the anniversary marks 60 years of Nissan's Australian company, the brand's history here stretches back much further.
Datsun Phaetons were imported into Australia from 1934, followed by the Nissan 70 sedan in 1937 — the first car to carry the Nissan name. Only 24 Phaetons were imported, following a substantial increase in import duties soon after their arrival.
Datsun returned to Australia in 1958, when two Bluebird 1000s competed in the Mobilgas Round Australia Trial, with one winning its class.
In 1960, Sir Lawrence Hartnett secured Australian distribution rights after being impressed by the Datsun Bluebird P310.
On 6 September 1966, Nissan Motor Co. (Australia) Pty. Ltd. was officially inaugurated, establishing a factory-backed local operation. Bluebird production began in Sydney that year through Pressed Metal Corporation, followed by expanded local assembly as demand grew and government local-content requirements shaped the industry.
Nissan expanded its Australian operations over the following decade, moving operations to a Clayton plant in Victoria in 1968 and establishing further parts and manufacturing facilities.
In 1976, the company began local vehicle manufacturing, with production of the 180B and 120Y reaching a combined 40,000 units that year.
Pulsar, Gazelle, Skyline and Pintara followed before local vehicle manufacturing ended in 1992.
The Nissan Casting Australia Plant, established in 1982, continues to manufacture components for Nissan vehicles, including parts exported to overseas plants.
Nissan moved its Australian headquarters to Mulgrave in 2020, where the anniversary gathering was held.
"Sixty years is a long time to keep showing up, and Saturday was proof of the passion of our fans. The gathering was a credit to the owners who bought these cars, kept them on the road, rebuilt them and brought them back. Some of these cars ceased production before their owners were even born," said Steve Milette, Managing Director, Nissan Oceania.
Patrol: Every generation of the iconic nameplate on display
Examples of every Patrol generation were on display, from the first-generation 4W60, sold exclusively in Japan, through to the G60, which arrived in Australia in 1961, and the all-new Y63 Patrol.
In September 1962, geologist Reg Sprigg, his wife Griselda and their children Marg and Doug crossed the Simpson Desert in a G60 Patrol, undertaking the first motorised crossing and charting a route over more than 1,100 sand dunes that became known as the French Line.
The Patrol went on to win 15 consecutive Australian Off-Road Championship titles between 1983 and 1998. Across five generations, more than 258,000 Patrols have been delivered to Australian customers.
Z: From Fairlady to 2026 Unryu Green
Working with the clubs, the Z display traced the sports car's history from its early days to the latest model.
The Datsun Fairlady 1500, released in 1962, anchored the display. The Datsun 240Z, which helped redefine expectations of an affordable sports car and won the Safari Rally in 1971, sat alongside subsequent generations, including the 260Z, 280ZX, 300ZX, 350Z and 370Z.
The latest Z on display was the 2026 Nissan Z in heritage-inspired Unryu Green and Z NISMO, which is now available with a manual transmission.
One of the rarest cars at the gathering was a 1966 CSP311 Silvia, brought along by a club member. The hand-built coupe shared underpinnings with the Fairlady and was produced in small numbers between 1965 and 1968. Just 554 were built, with 49 reportedly exported to Australia, making it the model's largest export market.
Skylines, imports and the cars that turned up
The clubs filled the remaining levels with a mix of Australian-delivered and Japanese-market Nissans, Datsuns, INFINITI and Prince models, from Bluebirds and 1600s through to the R32 Skyline GT‑R.
The R32 GT‑R won the Bathurst 1000 in 1991 and 1992, becoming the first Japanese car to win the race and earning the enduring "Godzilla" nickname.
"The scale and quality of the turnout was remarkable. To see owners maintaining, driving and sharing cars that are 60 years old — alongside some of the most significant models in Nissan's history — says a great deal about the depth of our following in Australia," Milette said.
"There were cars that genuinely surprised us, and the care their owners have put into preserving them was extraordinary. Thank you to the Nissan Datsun clubs and the Skyline clubs for bringing these cars together and helping make the day possible."
Six decades of Australian motoring
Nissan's Australian history spans importing, assembling, manufacturing and engineering vehicles, as well as exporting Australian-made components to Nissan plants around the world.
The Patrol has been part of the Australian market for 65 years, making it one of the industry's longest-running nameplates. Navara and its Datsun ute predecessors have been sold here for more than half a century, while the Z has reached Australian buyers across seven generations.
More than 2 million Nissan and Datsun vehicles have been delivered to Australian customers since 1966.
"Our history has been built one vehicle and one owner at a time. It's reflected in the cars that people continue to maintain, restore and drive, and in the communities that have grown around them," Milette said. "We're proud of the role Nissan has played in Australian motoring and of the people who have helped shape that story."
The all-new Navara Pro Plug-in Hybrid makes its Australian public debut
Alongside the all-new Y63 Patrol, Nissan's next chapter was represented by the all-new Navara Pro Plug-in Hybrid, which made its first public appearance in Australia at the event ahead of its expected showroom arrival next year.
"When someone buys a Patrol or a Navara, they're buying into six decades of Australian experience, a deep understanding of what our customers need and a commitment to supporting them for the long haul," Milette said.
"Our history gives us an incredible foundation to build on, and we're excited about what comes next. Seeing the all-new Navara Pro PHEV alongside every generation of Patrol and Z brings that story to life — celebrating the vehicles and owners who brought us here while showcasing the innovation shaping Nissan's future in Australia."
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Contacts:
Steve Coughlan
Head of Communications Oceania
Nissan Motor Co. Australia
Email: Steve_coughlan@nissan.com.au
Mobile: +61 459 845 294
Angus Thompson
Senior Manager Corporate Communications
Nissan Motor Co. Australia
Email: Angus_Thompson@nissan.com.au
Mobile: +61 483 014 406
