[Vella Gonzaga]

Service stations​

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Credits: Facebook/Australia Remember When

This photo takes us back to when service meant more than just refuelling. Attendants would greet you with a friendly smile, filling your tank while effortlessly juggling tasks like checking your oil and water levels, ensuring your tires were properly inflated, and even giving your windscreen a good cleaning—all with no extra charge. Do you have fond memories of these old-fashioned servos and their exceptional service? Tell us here.

 

[Rick62]

Oh I remember as a kid when not only did they clean the front windscreen they also cleaned the rear one too, Mum and Dad never got out of the car, not like today, our bush bunnies treat it like fill up and go without having to pay.

 

[Benny's Light]

The days of service with a smile, nothing was too much.

 

[cardie]

Yes I certainly remember those days as my husband and I had SERVICE Stations at Rose Bay North first and then for many years at Maroubra Junction. When petrol was rationed you stood for hours while the queues were never ending, always managed to get my boys to their football weekends. I have pumped petrol, checked oil, wiped windscreens, inflated tyres, filled oil bottles, swept the driveways and did the accounts and raised two sons, you don't get service like that now!

 

[starrysnan]

So lovely after a hot drive (no air conditioning) to have someone pump the petrol and check oil, water and tyres. And all with a smile!

 

[Gsr]

I remember when as soon as you pulled up a smiling attendant was waiting to ask the driver how much petrol he/she wanted. In went the pump to the fuel tank, up went the bonnet and oil and water and anything else that needed checking was done. Air in tyres was checked and more pumped in if required. Bottles of oil with spouts on the top were lined up outside the garage door making topping up the oil an easy job. Front and back windscreens were washed and even side windows if needed. Then the driver handed over the money and the attendant took it into the shop and returned and handed you the change. Never once did we ever come across an attendant who wasn’t happy and smiling. For many years they were men but before this service was stopped ladies were starting to do this job. I’m guessing a lot of it had to do with the fact a lot of petrol stations back then were privately owned, even when run as Shell, Mobil etc. therefore staff were usually family members, relatives. I remember when you could get a nice meal for a reasonable price at a roadhouse, which was a petrol station with its own restaurant. Lots of travellers stopped for a meal there. One of the towns we lived in during the early 90’s still had attendants who would fill your car with petrol and check under the bonnet and clean the windscreen. Even family owned petrol stations don’t offer this service now. Now they are service stations, back then everyone called them petrol stations.

 

[Littleboy8]

I remember when as soon as you pulled up a smiling attendant was waiting to ask the driver how much petrol he/she wanted. In went the pump to the fuel tank, up went the bonnet and oil and water and anything else that needed checking was done. Air in tyres was checked and more pumped in if required. Bottles of oil with spouts on the top were lined up outside the garage door making topping up the oil an easy job. Front and back windscreens were washed and even side windows if needed. Then the driver handed over the money and the attendant took it into the shop and returned and handed you the change. Never once did we ever come across an attendant who wasn’t happy and smiling. For many years they were men but before this service was stopped ladies were starting to do this job. I’m guessing a lot of it had to do with the fact a lot of petrol stations back then were privately owned, even when run as Shell, Mobil etc. therefore staff were usually family members, relatives. I remember when you could get a nice meal for a reasonable price at a roadhouse, which was a petrol station with its own restaurant. Lots of travellers stopped for a meal there. One of the towns we lived in during the early 90’s still had attendants who would fill your car with petrol and check under the bonnet and clean the windscreen. Even family owned petrol stations don’t offer this service now. Now they are service stations, back then everyone called them petrol stations.

Still have some in tassie service with a smile

 

[melnugro]

Yes I certainly remember those days as my husband and I had SERVICE Stations at Rose Bay North first and then for many years at Maroubra Junction. When petrol was rationed you stood for hours while the queues were never ending, always managed to get my boys to their football weekends. I have pumped petrol, checked oil, wiped windscreens, inflated tyres, filled oil bottles, swept the driveways and did the accounts and raised two sons, you don't get service like that now!

I TOO WAS A BOWSER SERVICE ATTENDANT AND REMEMBER THOSE DAYS FONDLY, AS PEOPLE WERE VERY APPRECIEATIVE OF THE SERVICE.