Commentary The post-World War II era was a golden age for Australia. Australians were united around their shared values, including democracy, egalitarianism, free speech, and the fair go—along with widespread economic growth and prosperity. This period gave birth to what cannot be called the Australian “dream” because it was so widely attained: owning a home in the suburbs and raising a family in “frugal comfort.” This was a time of optimism for the future, perhaps best captured on Nov. 29, 1948, when the first commercially held Holden rolled off the assembly line at Fishermans Bend in Port Melbourne. The Holden was “Australia’s own car.” The first car “made in Australia, for Australia,” and as described by then-Prime Minister Ben Chifley was a “beauty.” This week marks the 73rd anniversary of that first Holden, and it’s worth reflecting on what the first domestically produced commercial vehicle symbolised about Australia. The Holden …