Ampol
Encyclopedia
Ampol, the Australian Motorists Petrol Company, was incorporated by Sir William Gaston Walkley in 1936 in New South Wales
. This was in response to Australians' concerns about perceived inequitable petrol pricing, and allegations of transfer pricing
by foreign oil companies
to limit their tax liabilities in Australia.
Walkley, along with William Arthur O'Callaghan and George Hutchison
, approached the National Roads and Motorists' Association (NRMA) and offered to help them form a company to market petrol. Whilst deciding not to officially sponsor an oil company, members of the NRMA's board sought investors. In early 1936, an advertisement was printed in the NRMA's periodical publicising the float of Ampol. The first delivery of oil was received at White Bay in December 1937 and, by 1939, Walkley had joined the board of Ampol as managing director.
During World War II, Walkley served on the Oil Advisory Committee and the board of Pool Petroleum Pty Ltd, both of which supervised the distribution of petrol. This brought him into contact with Sir George Wales, who owned Alba Petroleum Co. of Australia Ltd which had a small market in South Australia
and Tasmania
. In 1945, Ampol purchased Alba Petroleum in an amicable takeover. The company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange
in 1948 and, in 1949, the company changed its name to Ampol Petroleum Ltd.
1965 saw the Lytton oil refinery in Brisbane
, Queensland
come on stream. Pioneer International Limited purchased a 20% stake in Ampol in 1979. In 1982, Ampol purchased the marketing and refining assets of Total Australia Limited
and changed its name to Ampol Limited.
In 1988, Pioneer International Limited (which had since 1980 held a 65% controlling stake) acquired full ownership of Ampol. The following year, Pioneer purchased Solo Oil Limited, the largest independent retailer and distributor in Australia at that time.
In May 1995, Caltex
and Ampol merged petroleum refining and marketing assets to form Australian Petroleum Pty Ltd which, in 1997, became Caltex Australia Ltd.The Ampol brand remains in use to this day, primarily in country areas where customer loyalty and strong brand-recognition are factors.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. This was in response to Australians' concerns about perceived inequitable petrol pricing, and allegations of transfer pricing
Transfer pricing
Transfer pricing refers to the setting, analysis, documentation, and adjustment of charges made between related parties for goods, services, or use of property . Transfer prices among components of an enterprise may be used to reflect allocation of resources among such components, or for other...
by foreign oil companies
Petroleum industry
The petroleum industry includes the global processes of exploration, extraction, refining, transporting , and marketing petroleum products. The largest volume products of the industry are fuel oil and gasoline...
to limit their tax liabilities in Australia.
Walkley, along with William Arthur O'Callaghan and George Hutchison
George Hutchison
George William Hutchison was Mayor of Auckland City from 1931 to 1935 and an accountant.He was born in Mongonui, educated at Auckland Grammar School, and was a public accountant in Auckland since 1907. He was on the Auckland University Council since 1929....
, approached the National Roads and Motorists' Association (NRMA) and offered to help them form a company to market petrol. Whilst deciding not to officially sponsor an oil company, members of the NRMA's board sought investors. In early 1936, an advertisement was printed in the NRMA's periodical publicising the float of Ampol. The first delivery of oil was received at White Bay in December 1937 and, by 1939, Walkley had joined the board of Ampol as managing director.
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
and Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. In 1945, Ampol purchased Alba Petroleum in an amicable takeover. The company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange
Australian Stock Exchange
The Australian Securities Exchange was created by the merger of the Australian Stock Exchange and the Sydney Futures Exchange in July 2006. It is the primary stock exchange group in Australia....
in 1948 and, in 1949, the company changed its name to Ampol Petroleum Ltd.
1965 saw the Lytton oil refinery in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
come on stream. Pioneer International Limited purchased a 20% stake in Ampol in 1979. In 1982, Ampol purchased the marketing and refining assets of Total Australia Limited
Total S.A.
Total S.A. is a French multinational oil company and one of the six "Supermajor" oil companies in the world.Its businesses cover the entire oil and gas chain, from crude oil and natural gas exploration and production to power generation, transportation, refining, petroleum product marketing, and...
and changed its name to Ampol Limited.
In 1988, Pioneer International Limited (which had since 1980 held a 65% controlling stake) acquired full ownership of Ampol. The following year, Pioneer purchased Solo Oil Limited, the largest independent retailer and distributor in Australia at that time.
In May 1995, Caltex
Caltex
Caltex is a petroleum brand name of Chevron Corporation used in more than 60 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, and southern Africa.-History:...
and Ampol merged petroleum refining and marketing assets to form Australian Petroleum Pty Ltd which, in 1997, became Caltex Australia Ltd.The Ampol brand remains in use to this day, primarily in country areas where customer loyalty and strong brand-recognition are factors.
External links
- Ampol
- History of Caltex/Ampol - updated link, 2011.3.22