Gull Petroleum
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fuel distribution |
| Founded | 1976 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
| Founder | Keith Mitchell, Mark Quackenbush, Terry Lockwood |
| Headquarters | Perth , Australia |
Area served | Australia, New Zealand |
| Owner | Chevron Corporation (Caltex) |
| Website | www |
Gull Petroleum is an Australian fuel distributor that was launched in Perth, Western Australia, in 1976. The enterprise was originally owned by its founders Keith Mitchell, Mark Quackenbush, and Terry Lockwood. It subsequently became part of Puma Energy and is currently under the ownership of Chevron Corporation (Caltex).
History
The inception of Gull Petroleum traces back to Keith Mitchell, Mark Quackenbush, and Terry Lockwood. Mitchell and Lockwood initially connected while employed at Golden Fleece, with Mitchell quickly advancing within the Western Australian oil industry. Quackenbush’s father, who owned Western Oil, recruited Mitchell, with Lockwood joining the company as well. Together, the trio established Gull Petroleum.
The name "Gull" was chosen by Mitchell to create a sense of familiarity akin to Gulf Oil, aiming to build consumer confidence within the Western Australian market.
During its early growth phase, Gull attracted investment from real estate professional Fred Rae, who acquired a stake in 1978. Following Rae’s involvement, Quackenbush departed to oversee Western Oil after his father’s passing. In 1984, Rae purchased Mitchell’s shares in the company.
Gull broadened its reach into the Australian Capital Territory in 1995 and launched Gull New Zealand in 1998. In December 2010, Fred Rae divested Gull’s portfolio of 98 service stations in Western Australia to Archer Capital’s Ausfuel group, which also operated Choice Petroleum and Peak Petroleum. Ausfuel was subsequently bought by Puma Energy in March 2013 for $625 million, acquiring 110 service stations along with 11 distribution depots.
In 2020, Chevron Corporation (Caltex) took over Puma Energy’s operations within Australia. Although numerous Puma-branded outlets have transitioned to Caltex branding nationwide, a number of Gull stations continue to operate in Western Australia as of 2025, including one located in Waterloo near Bunbury.