Long ago in Bunyip, you didn’t have to travel far to buy fuel. Whether you were filling the family car, a truck, a tractor, or even a small container for the lawn mower, there were plenty of places to keep you moving.
Around 1970, petrol in Australia cost about 9 to 10 cents per litre.
Looking back today, that seems absolutely amazing.In those days, fuel could be purchased from several businesses around town.
The places many of us remember included:
The Golden Fleece was a favourite stop, and if you were feeling hungry, you could also grab a great hamburger while you were there.And if those places weren’t convenient enough, a short drive could take you to other fuel outlets including Jack Gibbo’s, Les Brasher’s, Follett and Pope, Picnic Point, Davis and King, or the Coach Wheel.Fuel was everywhere.
But today our story moves beyond the petrol pumps and focuses on two of Bunyip’s best remembered mechanical businesses — BGS Motors and Bunyip Motors.BGS MotorsThe history of BGS Motors stretches back many years. Around 1945, after returning from military service, Bruce Casey took over the garage.These were difficult years.
The war had ended, money was tight, and many local farming families were struggling to make ends meet. Bruce did his best to help.
He was known to extend credit to farmers when times were tough, allowing them to keep their vehicles and machinery running until they were able to pay.Despite his efforts, the business only lasted a few years. Fortunately, Bruce’s mechanical skills were highly regarded, and he later went on to work for the Buln Buln Shire, where he became a respected mechanic responsible for maintaining the council’s road machinery, including graders and other equipment used to build and maintain local roads.
In later years, the business became closely associated with brothers Graeme and Stewart Hore.
For many local residents, they were the friendly faces behind BGS Motors, always ready with a cheerful hello and willing to help keep the district’s vehicles on the road.Whether it was a family sedan, a farm ute, or a vehicle needing repairs, BGS Motors played an important role in the everyday life of Bunyip.
Thinking back to those years also brings memories of Mum’s little Mini Moke. During the 1970s and early 1980s, a tank holding around 39 litres could take you approximately 550 kilometres before it needed another fill.
Times have certainly changed.
Bunyip Motors
Just down the road stood Bunyip Motors, operated by brothers Frank and Bill Kinder.
Out the front stood two BP petrol pumps, serving local motorists and travellers passing through town.
Inside the workshop, the Kinder brothers worked on almost anything with an engine.
Their work included motor cars, farm machinery, trucks and tractors, making them an important part of the farming community as well as the town itself.
Before becoming one of the owners, Bill Kinder had worked for Reg Streeter around 1956, when Streeter operated the business.
One interesting fact about the garage is that Reg Streeter’s workshop was built using trusses from Melbourne’s famous horse market, Kirk’s Bazaar.
It is a wonderful example of how building materials were often recycled and given a second life in country towns.
Several young men learnt their trade at Bunyip Motors through apprenticeships. Among them were:
Today the site is known as The Red Shed Bunyip – Melbourne’s Mower Centre, but many locals still remember it as Bunyip Motors.
As with many country garages, it was more than just a place to buy petrol or have a vehicle repaired. It was a place where people stopped for a chat, shared local news, and caught up with neighbours.
Looking back, it is remarkable to think that such a small town could support so many fuel outlets and mechanical businesses.
They kept local families, farmers, truck drivers and travellers moving, and they played an important part in the life of Bunyip.
And perhaps that is what many of us remember most — not just the petrol pumps, but the people behind them.
Do you remember buying petrol in Bunyip during the 1960s, 1970s or 1980s? We’d love to hear your memories of the garages, mechanics and service stations that helped keep our district moving.