History Of Solo – Solo Energy Corp

EST. 1974

The History Of Solo

THE SPIRIT OF

1970

In 1970, David Goldberger moved to Australia, bringing his experience from running a service station in the US. Around the same time, David Wieland, a ₤10 migrant from
England, settled in Australia after army service and training with Caltex. Stars aligned and the pair crossed paths in 1971, leading to the creation of a service station with a Mobil contract, sparking rapid growth as “the Davids.”

1974

Founding Solo in 1974, the pair became the first serious challenger to the industry giants. With the support of the ACTU and Bob Hawke, they introduced discount fuel in Victoria and New South Wales. After a bold move into the BP dominated Western Australian market, Solo grew into the largest independent fuel retailer and wholesaler in Australia, before being sold to Ampol where a strong relationship forged.

1995

Launching Liberty Oil in 1995, the Davids divested their 69 retail sites to Woolworths to focus on establishing a wholesale Fuel and distribution business. Liberty Oil thrived, becoming a significant national supplier with a robust network of depots, a dedicated transport fleet, and over 250 dealer-owned stations carrying either Shell or Liberty brands.

2019

In December 2019, the pair sold Liberty Oil Holdings to Viva Energy, forming a joint venture to expand the Liberty Retail network. The retail chain has now built to 100 sites across Australia, with plans to continue constructing new and modern outlets at the forefront of the market

2024

With such a rich history and half a decade of success, the duo decided to bring back the iconic brand that started it all, SOLO.

The History Of Solo

THE SPIRIT OF

lmcculloch@solocorp.com.au

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