Solo Oil

Last updated
Solo Oil
Industry Petroleum
Founded1974, returned 2025
FounderDavid Golberger
David Wieland
Defunct1989
Headquarters
Melbourne
,
Australia
Number of locations
200+ (1989)

Solo Oil is an Australian Petrol Station company that operated from 1974 until 1989 when taken over by Ampol. In 2025, Solo was revived as a rebranding of several Liberty sites in South Australia, Queensland and Victoria.

History

Solo Oil was founded in 1974 by David Goldberger and David Wieland. [1] [2] Goldberger negotiated an agreement with Mobil Australia, for the supply of petroleum at a fixed rate, following the increase in world fuel prices, this discount increased from six cents to 12.5 cents per gallon. [3] In July 1975, it joined forces with the Australian Council of Trade Unions to sell discounted fuel to independent operators in Melbourne. [4] [5] [6] In April 1977 it commenced operations in Sydney. [7]

In 1989 the business was sold to Ampol by which time it was the largest independent fuel retailer and distributor with over 200 service stations. [8] [9] Goldberger and Wieland were subject to a ten year non-compete clause however this was ruled void by the Trade Practices Commission after Ampol merged with Caltex, allowing them to establish Liberty Oil in 1995. [1]

In 2025, Solo returned to Australia after Viva Energy acquired LOC Global which resulted in several sites rebranding to Solo. [10]

References

  1. 1 2 "Oil twins head back into the big league". Australian Financial Review. 11 November 1996. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022.
  2. ↑ "Petrol Discounters prepare for War". The Bulletin . 097 (4957). John Haynes and J.F. Archibald: 61. 17 May 1975. ISSN   0007-4039.
  3. ↑ "ACTU-Solo case shows up oil super-profits". Tribune . No. 1922. New South Wales, Australia. 8 October 1975. p. 7. Retrieved 14 October 2022– via National Library of Australia.
  4. ↑ ACTU to sell petrol at 16c discount Canberra Times 23 July 1975 page 1
  5. ↑ The good oil - at 16 cents off The Age 23 September 1975 page 3
  6. ↑ "About Us". Liberty Oil Convenience. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  7. ↑ Going it Solo Sydney Morning Herald 31 March 1977 page 6
  8. ↑ "Our History". Ampol . Archived from the original on 3 March 2022.
  9. ↑ "Liberty's Davids to do a deal with Goliath". Australian Financial Review. 20 July 2001. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022.
  10. ↑ Oakley-Newell, Tom (2024-12-11). "ACCC clears Viva Energy's acquisition of LOC Global". Convenience & Impulse Retailing. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
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