Holden workers are "gutted" the car maker is closing its Australian manufacturing operations but say the writing has been on the wall.
Workers in Adelaide and Melbourne were told "that's it" for the car maker by 2017.
"2017, it's over. That's what we were told," one worker told reporters as he left the Elizabeth vehicle manufacturing plant.
Another simply said: "One word: gutted."
Richard Brown, a mechanic for 17 years, said he was not happy but expected the news.
"We all expected it; that's life," the 41-year-old said in Melbourne.
"Colleagues are pretty upset as you would expect. If anyone wants a mechanic, I'm available."
Mr Brown, who has a wife and three children to support, said he didn't know what he would do next.
"No one knows when we are going to finish up. We still might have two years with engineering. It depends on the work."
Another Holden Melbourne worker Ron, who did not give his last name, said workers were shocked.
"We all knew it was coming; we all knew about it," he said.
"These are all good people here - they are all good workers."
He said the government should have stepped in long ago.
"It's a game to them. It's our lives; it's our livelihood; it's families; it's everything."
He said Holden workers produced a world-class car.
"It's an icon gone - manufacturing in this country is gone."
Holden worker Rod Deboer said it was upsetting.
"This has been on the wall for a while," Mr Deboer said.
"It's just expected really. I'm sure I'll survive somehow."
He said a group of his friends had been made redundant four weeks ago.
"You could see what was going to happen," he said.
An unnamed Elizabeth worker said Holden made a good product but it was the state of the industry.
"It's just shattering."
