A long long time ago, in a land not very far away, I worked for AMPOL, the original AMPOL, in a few locations around the south-eastern suburbs.
Unlike recent times, when I went a little crazy photographing Caltex servos before they reverted to the AMPOL name, I never took much time to cover the disappearance of the former chain.
However, I did cover the changes to the AMPOL that was found near the entrance to Sydney's domestic airport terminal in Mascot.
The following may be of little or no interest, however, they are a bit of history and I really had nowhere else to put them.
You're welcome.
So many things have changed since these first few photos were taken.
The original AMPOL disappeared after merging with Caltex. While it has recently returned, it does so with a strange logo and red being the predominant colour, probably due to it being cheaper than returning it all to the original blue.
Across the road, on both sides of the servo, is the old Delta Rent-A-Car, which would become Delta-Europcar, before dropping the Delta name altogether.
Remember 65.9?
For a time, the servo was an agent for Red Spot Car Rentals, and the signage can be seen in a number of images.
I was about to suggest that they have also disappeared, but a search reveals they are still a thing. Probably says a lot for their marketing.
Lastly, in the background can be seen the large 'Airport Central' building, which is attached to Stamford (formerly Sheraton) Hotel. The building is still there, but it is no longer named Airport Central.
Far from the most pleasant place I have worked over the years, and for so many reasons, but it did start an interest in the original company that still lasts to this day.
Remember 67.9?
Photos above and below show the AMPOL following merger with Caltex. The underground tanks were apparently filled with cement, while this truck carted off the bowsers.
I wasn't able to talk my way into a souvenier :-(
The Delta Rent-A-Car building in the background was more recently demolished and is now a brand new 'Holiday Inn Express'.
Save for a few small reminders, colours and a couple of surviving logos, the days of 'AMPOL Airport were over.
It was 'Airport Service Station' (mechanical and radiator repairs).
Then later, the mechanical moved into the radiator shop, with the rest converted into a car wash and cafe, for the very short lived, one day in fact, Newborn Car Wash.
Today it is the 'Mascot Airport Carwash Cafe'.
There is little left in 2021 to reveal it's earlier AMPOL heritage.
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