Ampol
An Australian fuel supply, energy logistics and convenience retail company serving motorists, commercial customers and transport industries.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Ampol Limited is an Australian petroleum, transport-energy and convenience-retailing company headquartered in Sydney. Its business spans the fuel value chain: importing and procuring petroleum products, operating storage and distribution infrastructure, supplying wholesale and commercial customers, managing service stations, and selling food, beverages and vehicle-related products through convenience outlets. Australia is its principal market, where the company operates one of the country’s largest branded fuel-station networks. Its customers include private motorists, road-freight operators, mining companies, aviation and marine businesses, government users and other commercial fleets. The company’s roots lie in two historical Australian petroleum businesses. Ampol was incorporated in New South Wales in 1936 as the Australian Motorists Petrol Company. It was established amid concerns about petrol pricing and the influence of foreign oil companies, with William Walkley playing a central founding and leadership role. The separate Caltex business developed from Texas Company operations in Australia and began using the Caltex name in 1941. Both companies subsequently expanded their refining, marketing and distribution activities, and each established a substantial Australian service-station presence. Ampol’s historical operations included service stations, refineries, lubricants, tyres and petroleum distribution. It opened its first company-owned service station in 1952 and rapidly expanded its network. Its Lytton refinery in Brisbane began production in 1965, while Caltex Australia operated the Kurnell refinery in Sydney. In 1995, the petroleum, refining and marketing assets of Ampol and Caltex Australia were combined into Australian Petroleum Pty Ltd. Pioneer International later sold its interest, leaving Caltex Australia with full ownership and leading to the business being operated under the Caltex Australia identity. The Ampol consumer brand was progressively replaced by Caltex during the following decade, although the name continued to have historical recognition and remained in limited use at some locations. Caltex Australia was partly owned by Chevron until Chevron sold its stake in 2015. The Australian company continued using the Caltex trademark under licence, but Chevron later gave notice that the licence would end. In May 2020, shareholders approved changing the corporate name from Caltex Australia Limited to Ampol Limited. The company then undertook a nationwide rebrand, replacing Caltex signage with Ampol branding and introducing the Foodary convenience concept at selected locations. The transition was completed within the contractual period ending in 2022. Today, Ampol combines retail fuel and convenience operations with large-scale supply and logistics capabilities. It supplies petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, marine fuel, lubricants and other energy products, while its retail network provides food-to-go, coffee, drinks, groceries and motoring products. It also operates internationally through fuel-supply and retail activities, including New Zealand subsidiary Z Energy and trading or logistics operations connected with regional fuel markets. Ampol’s stated business role is closely tied to maintaining reliable transport-energy supply in Australia while adapting its retail network and product portfolio to changing mobility, convenience and energy needs.
History
Ampol’s history begins with the Australian Motorists Petrol Company, incorporated in New South Wales in 1936. The company was formed in response to public concerns over petrol pricing and the role of foreign petroleum companies in Australia. William Walkley, together with William O’Callaghan and George Hutchison, helped promote the venture. Its first oil delivery arrived at White Bay in December 1937, and Walkley later became managing director. During the Second World War, he served on bodies involved in supervising petroleum distribution. Ampol expanded through acquisitions and infrastructure development. In 1945 it acquired Alba Petroleum, extending its reach into South Australia and Tasmania. The company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in 1948 and adopted the name Ampol Petroleum in 1949. Its first company-owned service station opened in Mosman, Sydney, in 1952 with assistance from Caltex; around 600 stations were added during the following six years. Ampol subsequently established a grease plant, entered tyre and tube manufacturing, and brought the Lytton oil refinery in Brisbane into operation in 1965. It acquired Total Australia’s marketing and refining assets in 1982 and purchased Solo, then a major independent Australian retailer and distributor, in 1989. The parallel Caltex history derived from Texas Company operations in Australia. Texas Company (Australasia) was incorporated in 1918, and the Caltex joint venture between Standard Oil of California and The Texas Company was formed in the United States in 1936. The Australian business adopted the Caltex name in 1941. Caltex Australia developed refining and distribution assets including the Kurnell refinery, which opened in 1956, and acquired Golden Fleece in 1981. The two former rivals combined their Australian petroleum, refining and marketing assets in 1995 to form Australian Petroleum Pty Ltd, jointly owned by Pioneer International and Caltex Australia. Pioneer sold its interest in 1997, and Caltex Australia became the sole owner of the merged operating business. Chevron, which ultimately controlled the global Caltex interests, held half of Caltex Australia until selling that stake in 2015. The Australian company continued using Caltex under a trademark licence. During the Caltex Australia period, the company expanded convenience retailing, operated the Star Mart format and introduced an IGA Everyday supermarket concept at a service station. It closed the Kurnell crude refinery in 2014 and converted parts of the site into import, storage and blending infrastructure. It also acquired Milemaker service stations in Victoria during 2016 and 2017. Chevron’s decision to terminate the Australian Caltex trademark licence led to a major identity change. In May 2020, shareholders approved the name Ampol Limited. The company rolled out new Ampol branding across Australia from 2020 through 2022, while developing the Foodary convenience proposition. The modern business retains the historical company’s fuel-supply and retail heritage but operates as a broader transport-energy and logistics group, with activities in Australia and selected overseas markets including New Zealand.
- 2022
Caltex trademark transition ends
[1]The planned transition period for removing licensed Caltex branding from the Australian network concludes.
- 2020
Caltex Australia becomes Ampol Limited
[2]Shareholders approve the corporate rebrand and the company begins replacing Caltex branding with Ampol.
- 2015
Chevron sells its Caltex Australia stake
[1]Chevron sells its 50 percent interest in Caltex Australia to public investors.
- 2014
Kurnell refinery closes
[1]Crude-refining operations at Kurnell cease, with the site later adapted for fuel imports and blending.
- 1995
Ampol and Caltex assets merge
[1]The companies combine their Australian petroleum, refining and marketing assets into Australian Petroleum Pty Ltd.
- 1965
Lytton refinery begins operations
[1]Ampol’s Lytton oil refinery in Brisbane comes on stream.
- 1952
First Ampol-owned service station opens
[1]Ampol opens its first company-owned service station in Mosman, Sydney.
- 1948
Ampol lists on the ASX
[1]The company becomes publicly listed in Australia.
- 1945
Acquisition of Alba Petroleum
[1]Ampol acquires Alba Petroleum, strengthening its presence in South Australia and Tasmania.
- 1937
First Ampol oil delivery
[1]Ampol receives its first oil delivery at White Bay in Sydney.
Products and positioning
An Australian-focused integrated transport-energy supplier combining fuel procurement and logistics, commercial distribution, service-station retailing and convenience-led roadside retail.
Fuel and convenience retail · 1952
Ampol service stations
Ampol’s branded service-station network supplies petrol and diesel to motorists and commonly integrates convenience retail. Locations may offer food, beverages, coffee, groceries, vehicle products and other roadside essentials. The network is the company’s most visible consumer-facing operation in Australia and also supports loyalty, digital and fleet-related services where available.
Convenience retail
Ampol Foodary
Foodary is Ampol’s convenience-led retail concept used at selected service stations. It is designed around food-to-go, coffee, drinks and everyday convenience purchases, complementing the traditional fuel-station offer and targeting travellers, commuters and local customers.
Wholesale energy supply
Commercial fuels
Ampol supplies bulk and wholesale fuels to commercial users including road transport, mining, aviation, marine, government and industrial customers. The offer combines petroleum products with procurement, storage, distribution and account or fleet support capabilities.
Transport energy
Aviation and marine fuels
Ampol provides aviation and marine fuel products and associated logistics as part of its commercial-energy portfolio. These activities serve transport operators and other customers requiring fuel delivered through specialised supply chains.
Automotive products
Lubricants and motoring products
The business sells lubricants and vehicle-related products through retail and commercial channels. These products support vehicle maintenance and complement Ampol’s fuel and service-station operations.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020Return to Ampol
Australia
A corporate and consumer rebrand replaced Caltex identity across the Australian network after Chevron ended the trademark licence. The programme introduced Ampol signage and a refreshed visual identity, with implementation staged across major cities and then nationally.
Outcome. The rebrand was completed during the 2020–2022 transition period and Ampol became the principal Australian brand.
Brand decisions
2020
Restore Ampol as the corporate and retail brandStrategyBackground
Chevron’s termination of the Caltex trademark licence required the Australian company to select a new identity. Ampol was chosen because of its historical Australian petroleum heritage and continued brand recognition.
Action taken
Shareholders approved changing Caltex Australia Limited to Ampol Limited, followed by a staged replacement of Caltex signage and associated brand assets across Australia.
Aftermath
Ampol became the company’s principal corporate and consumer identity. The company also avoided ongoing Caltex trademark-licensing costs; the cited expected saving was approximately A$20 million per year.
Expected annual trademark-licensing cost saving. (2020 announcement)
2014
Close Kurnell crude refinery and repurpose the siteStrategyBackground
The Kurnell refinery was affected by changing refining economics and the company’s need to strengthen fuel-import infrastructure.
Action taken
Crude-refining operations were ended and the site was converted into an importation, storage and blending terminal.
Aftermath
The conversion was completed in May 2019, supporting imported fuel supply to the Australian market.
2009
Proposed acquisition of Mobil service stationsM&ABackground
Caltex Australia sought to expand its retail network by acquiring 302 Mobil and Mobil Quix stations in several Australian cities.
Action taken
The ACCC opposed the proposed acquisition because it considered that competition could be reduced. Caltex Australia abandoned the transaction.
Aftermath
Mobil entered an agreement to sell the sites to 7-Eleven Australia instead.
- 7-Eleven Australia — 7-Eleven Australia agreed to acquire the sites after the Caltex proposal was abandoned.
Recent events
- 2020
Shareholders approve Caltex Australia rebrand to Ampol[2]
Campaign
More than 99 percent of voting shareholders approved changing the corporate name from Caltex Australia Limited to Ampol Limited and restoring Ampol as the principal Australian brand.
- 2020
Alimentation Couche-Tard withdraws Caltex Australia acquisition proposal[1]
M&A
Alimentation Couche-Tard ended its proposal to acquire Caltex Australia amid uncertainty associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, after the parties had discussed an improved offer.
- 2019
Kurnell refinery converted into import and blending terminal[1]
Product generation
After crude-refining operations at Kurnell ended, parts of the site were converted into a fuel-importation and blending terminal, with the conversion completed in 2019.
- 2019
Chevron gives notice to end Australian Caltex trademark licence[2]
Other
Chevron notified Caltex Australia that its licence to use the Caltex trademark in Australia would terminate, prompting the Australian company to prepare a return to the Ampol identity.
- 2009
Caltex Australia announces proposal to acquire Mobil service stations[1]
M&A · Regulation
Caltex Australia proposed buying 302 Mobil and Mobil Quix sites, but the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission opposed the transaction on competition grounds. Caltex abandoned the acquisition and the sites were subsequently sold to 7-Eleven Australia.
- 2009
Kurnell lubricants refinery to close[1]
Other
Caltex Australia announced the planned closure of the Kurnell lubricating-oil refinery, citing weak viability, outdated product output and declining feedstock availability.
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