Arriving in Australia
Every long story starts with a single moment. For Shell in Australia, that moment came in 1901, with the first bulk shipment of kerosene arriving by sea.
Uncover the early years
Uncover the early years
The SS Turbo arrived at Victoria’s Port Phillip carrying the first bulk kerosene cargo to ever reach Australia. Reliable energy was, and continues to be, essential.
Gore Bay Terminal
One of Shell’s first investments in Australia was Gore Bay Terminal. The terminal facilitated the oil pipeline between Greenwich and Western Sydney.
A nation on the move
As energy supply became more reliable, Australia began to move differently. Shell supported the growing need for reliable fuel and navigation across a growing nation.
See how we got Australia moving
See how we got Australia moving
Since 2014, Viva Energy has been the exclusive licensee for Shell-branded fuels and now operates more than 1,300 service stations across the country.
Helping motorists find their way
From the 1920s until the late 1970s Shell produced and distributed road maps in Australia, supporting motorists with navigation and touring information.
Australia takes flight
New ways of moving people and goods across Australia’s vast distances began as aviation emerged in the early 20th century.
Learn more about early aviation
Learn more about early aviation
As commercial aviation expanded, reliable fuel supply became critical to maintaining regular flight routes.
Shell played its part by supplying fuel to airfields and regional hubs, helping to sustain emerging air services across Australia.
Powering early flight
Shell fuel powered Australia’s early commercial flights in the 1920s.
Supporting industry
As post-war demand for energy grew, local energy refining became critical to supporting industry and infrastructure.
Discover the role of local refining
Discover the role of local refining
The Clyde refinery in Western Sydney began operations in 1928 and by 1948 was producing enough bitumen to pave all the roads under construction in New South Wales.
Geelong refinery
In 1954 Shell opened the Geelong refinery and built a pipeline linking it to customers in Melbourne, helping meet Victoria’s growing demand for fuel.
LNG era
Over time, Australia’s energy system expanded in scale and complexity. From offshore engineering to large-scale LNG infrastructure, Shell has unlocked new energy supplies and connected Australia to global energy markets.
Pioneering gas in Australia
Pioneering gas in Australia
Shell was a foundation partner in the North West Shelf, which at time was the largest gas infrastructure project in the world.
This marked the beginning of a series of projects built for ambition, scale and innovation.
Energy for today
From early supply to integrated energy systems, Shell’s role in Australia continues to evolve.
Today, we explore, produce and supply gas and LNG. We also market electricity, generate renewables and operate grid-scale batteries.
Get to know Shell Energy
Get to know Shell Energy
Shell Energy is a generation-backed trader and energy retailing business. It’s Australia’s largest dedicated provider of business electricity and a leader in energy innovation.
Keeping the grid humming
Rangebank Battery Energy Storage System in Victoria helps to match renewable generation to demand.
Powering the future
Energy has always been about more than supply - it’s about enabling how people live, work and move. For Shell in Australia, the focus remains clear: supplying energy today, while building for what comes next.
Video transcript
Video transcript
Title: SHELL - 125 YEARS OF POWERING PROGRESS IN AUSTRALIA
Duration: 00:30 seconds
Description:
This video features Jessica, a Shell Service Station Attendant, and Nathan, a Shell customer, as he takes us on a journey through time, revealing the role Shell has played in the everyday lives of Australians. Celebrating 125 years of powering progress, the film explores how Shell has become part of the fabric of Australia—and looks ahead to the future.
[Background music plays]
In conjunction with Shell mnemonics, a euphoric instrumental-style track with strings that build, and rhythms that align with the optimism outlined in the Sound of Shell DNA.
Nathan (Customer)
Just the petrol, thanks.
[Video footage/VFX]
Using unreal engine technology (visual effects), the Service Station environment has been re-created to simulate a real Service Station.
We open on a mid shot of Nathan walking up to the counter inside a Shell Service Station. Another customer walks past in the background.
Jessica (Shell Attendant)
Just the petrol? Shell’s so much more.
[Video footage/VFX]
We cut to a mid shot of Shell Service Station attendant Jessica who is standing behind the counter. Behind her is the window which leads out to the forecourt of the service station, where a red car is situated at a petrol bowser. A yellow glow-like light reflection appears over Jessica’s face.
Jessica (Shell Attendant)
Since 1901, Shell’s been powering the way
[Video footage/VFX]
We cut back to Nathan the customer, as he turns and walks away, we transition from the service station into 1901 (using VFX/Virtual Production). Nathan stumbles into 1901, walking past two dock workers transferring a barrel of kerosene off a ship.
Jessica (Shell Attendant)
Taking Australia sky high.
[VFX]
A wide shot whip pan transition, tilting up to the sky, to reveal a small airplane flying through a blue sky with clouds.
[SFX]
Noise of a plane flying
Jessica (Shell Attendant)
Innovating to keep energy flowing
[VFX]
As the clouds part way, we reveal a wide shot of the red-coloured Shell Prelude FLNG facility (Floating Liquefied Natural Gas) floating in the Indian Ocean.
Jessica (Shell Attendant)
Wherever it’s needed
[Video footage/VFX]
We match-cut from the Prelude facility at sea to a 3D model of the Prelude sitting on the desk inside the control room of the QGC (Queensland Gas Company).
Using a push in transition, the camera moves past a close-up of an employee's hands typing on a keyboard to reveal a wide shot of Nathan inside the QGC, in awe of the technology and employee innovation. He’s surrounded by employees and screens showing data.
Jessica (Shell Attendant)
While advancing technology,
[Video footage/VFX]
The camera orbits around Nathan, then tracks towards an extreme close-up of his eye, where we see a reflection of a Ferrari car racing on a circuit at the Formula One. We see a brief whip pan transition of the race car, before revealing Nathan in the middle of a group of fans, behind a metal screen/fence at the Formula One. A Formula One employee is in the foreground.
[SFX]
Formula one car engine noises and fans cheering.
Jessica (Shell Attendant)
And keeping the grid humming.
We see a wide shot of Nathan, walking among the batteries at Rangebank, curiously looking around.
Shot transitions to a wide drone shot of Nathan walking among the batteries.
Jessica (Shell Attendant)
Shell, a hundred and twenty-five-years of powering progress in Australia.
[Video footage and animated sequence]
We end on customer Nathan leaning on his red vintage car, looking into the night sky towards the city.
The small classic red and yellow Pecten and 125 Year logo transitions into display at frame-center over the sky, with a city skyline backdrop.
[Audio]
Shell brand mnemonic played on keys.
[Ends]
