It seems the roads at Lang Lang aren’t just meant for testing vehicles—they’re also testing the patience of real estate brokers, investors, and perhaps even the local kangaroo population. The iconic former Holden proving ground, nestled a mere 100 kilometers from Melbourne, is proving to be a tough sell. Once synonymous with Australian automotive brilliance, this 877-hectare property has transformed from a marvel of engineering to, well, an abandoned track stuck in financial limbo (or is that Lambo).
A Bumpy Ride: The Fixture Nobody Wants to Finish
The Lang Lang proving ground, adorned with 44 kilometers of testing tracks, state-of-the-art emissions labs, and a rich Holden history dating back to 1957, hit the market after its current owner, Vietnamese car manufacturer VinFast, decided to wave an awkward goodbye to Australia in 2021. Purchased for $34 million in 2020, VinFast’s ambitious plans for the site were abruptly abandoned, leaving a glowing engineering facility as a relic of automotive daydreaming.
Despite extensive renovations done by General Motors to the tune of $16 million in 2018, which included an $8.7 million emissions testing lab and repaving of its high-speed oval, this jewel remains stubbornly unsold. The asking price? $25 million. The problem? Disinterested buyers who keep peeling out mid-negotiation, leaving the property in a lose-lose proposition that may cost VinFast upwards of $10 million if sold.
Who Will Take the Wheel?
Speculation abounds as to who might finally take this site off VinFast’s hands. Lindsay Fox, Australian billionaire and notorious car aficionado, has reportedly been circling Lang Lang’s tracks, metaphorically speaking, for over a decade. Unfortunately, Drive can now confirm that Mr. Fox, despite his illustrious property portfolio (that includes nearby Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit), was not the successful bidder. Or perhaps no one is, considering Lang Lang’s dance card of prospective buyers is as empty as a canceled track event at the moment.
Three groups are still tiptoeing around the purchase, according to sources, but secrecy reigns supreme. With phenomena like local environmental protests and a now-dormant “Save The Holden Bushlands” campaign previously loitering around the political fray, maybe potential buyers fear more backlash—or perhaps they’re just unsure how to market a 4×4 course and high-speed bowl in a post-petrol world.
From Legacy to Liability?
To the average Aussie, Lang Lang is more than a proving ground—it’s a slice of national pride. Steeped in nostalgia, the site owes much of its character to Holden’s iconic footprint in Australian automotive history. For decades, it was the birthplace of vehicles designed for local roads, and its mere existence offered a whisper of Australia’s once-thriving manufacturing power.
And yet, the longer the facility languishes unsold, the more it risks sliding out of its storied narrative and into a stark reality: a looming liability for its owner, its agents, and its local reputation. In the delicate tension between heritage and utility, Lang Lang’s echoes of roaring engines might soon fade into eerie silence if no deal crosses the finish line.
From Test Tracks to Tightropes
As it stands, the Lang Lang proving ground is a classic tale of romance gone wrong—Australian automotive nostalgia locked in a gridlock of modern commercial gridlines. There’s still hope that one of the interested groups will take the plunge, but in the meantime, Lang Lang remains stuck in the shop window like an unsold supercar—beautiful, expensive, and utterly frustrating.
Whoever eventually buys it will need more than just deep pockets. They’ll need imagination, patience, and perhaps even more than a little love of the road. Until then, Lang Lang proves there’s one thing tougher than testing a new car: selling its testing ground.
