The roots of a rare business

The McKinnon Petrol story started with Amir’s father, a man who’s spent over 55 years in the petrol industry.

‘When I was growing up, my father would lease petrol stations. And in the late 1980s, an opportunity came up for him to purchase this one – McKinnon Petrol,’ Amir explains. ‘It was a big move for him and our family. Especially considering interest rates were about 18% at the time.’

Despite the risk, Amir’s father bought the property in 1989.

He worked at the business for about 20 years before eventually leasing out the station. But after a run of unsuccessful tenants, Amir’s father finally asked him if he would like to take it on.

‘I’ve worked at BSPC Physiotherapy & Pilates for many years, so when my Dad came to me with the offer, I was excited by the chance to try something new that would complement my physiotherapy work,’ Amir says. ‘I jumped at the opportunity – with my father and family’s support.’

And now, 18 months in, they’re still going strong.

 

Three generations, one vision

McKinnon Petrol isn’t just a business – it’s a family affair.

‘We’ve got three generations involved,’ Amir shares. ‘I run the business with my father’s help – he’s got a lot of connections and experience.’

His dad, now 78, still gets hands-on as well. ‘He keeps an eye on things, covers lunch breaks and helps with business development. It’s amazing how much energy he has,’ Amir laughs. ‘And we’ve brought my eldest daughter on board, too.’

Amir’s daughter, a Monash Arts/Law student, handles everything from admin to driveway service.

‘She helps with superannuation and payments, manages tasks on the Xero software and works a few days a week on the driveway,’ Amir says. ‘So, between the three of us, we cover a lot. But most importantly, we enjoy working together.’

‘And I do a bit of everything: marketing, staff training, ordering petrol and working the driveway, among other things.’

 

Serving the same streets, decades later

Amir never expected to end up in the family business, but it’s become something deeply meaningful.

‘My brother and I have completely different careers,’ he explains. ‘So it’s meant a lot to my dad that one of his sons came into the business. I’d say he’s pretty proud of what we’ve achieved together.’

It certainly is a proud moment, not just for the family, but for the community too.

‘My family’s been in this area for 60 years,’ Amir says. ‘My brother and I went to McKinnon High, and my youngest daughter just graduated from there, as well.

‘And now, being able to give back to the community… that’s pretty special.’

 

The last of a dying breed, and that’s the point

There are just a handful of driveway service stations left in the state, and McKinnon Petrol is one of the only ones in metro Melbourne.

‘It’s very rare now,’ Amir acknowledges. ‘But I think people crave service. It’s disappearing in a lot of industries, but there’s still a real need for it.’

And based on what he’s hearing, McKinnon Petrol’s customers couldn’t agree more.

‘A lot of them are very thankful; mothers with kids who don’t have to leave the car, elderly people, tradies who just want a few minutes to sit,’ Amir says. ‘There’s one lady with cerebral palsy who comes in, and she’s always so grateful for the help.’

It’s that hands-on, human-first approach that’s built McKinnon Petrol’s loyal following – made up of both locals and not-so-locals.

‘We get people driving from 20 minutes away just to receive that service,’ Amir shares. ‘The feedback is overwhelmingly positive, and it’s a real impetus to keep doing what we’re doing.’

 

A personal touch at every fill-up

So how does it work at McKinnon? Amir takes us through:

‘Once a car drives in, we’ll direct them to a pump,’ he explains. ‘We greet them, ask what petrol they want, how much – while they sit in the car.’

The staff will fill up the car, check the oil or water if needed and maybe check the tyres.

‘Then, we bring out the EFTPOS machine, they pay and off they go,’ Amir concludes.

It’s quick. It’s easy. It’s human.

‘A transaction can literally take 90 seconds,’ Amir says. ‘They don’t have to leave the car or get their hands dirty. It’s a very simple, smooth process.’

 

Making it work against the grain

Of course, running a driveway service station in 2025 isn’t without its challenges. The biggest one being cost.

‘Self-serve stations might have one person behind the counter. We always have a minimum of two people on, which doubles the cost,’ Amir says.

But he’s betting on quality.

‘If we provide a good enough service, people will come back. Eventually, the volume will increase, and that’ll offset the cost.’

There’s also different skills and requirements for driveway staff to consider – but it’s all manageable, and more than worth it.

 

Keeping the old school fresh

When asked what’s next for McKinnon Petrol, Amir is clear: ‘My philosophy is always to improve. I want the business to never stagnate.’

Still, he’s staying true to what makes the station unique.

‘I have every intention of maintaining driveway service. That will always be part of it,’ he says without hesitation, although he admits modern tech will be playing more of a role.

‘We’ve got portable EFTPOS machines so people can pay in the car. Behind the scenes, we use systems to make ordering and admin more efficient. But the actual service – that’s always going to be from us.’

At the heart of it all is one guiding principle – a lesson carried over from decades as a physiotherapist.

‘I always believed every patient had to feel like they were the only one I saw that day,’ he says. ‘It’s the same here at McKinnon Petrol. Even if it’s just a 90-second fill-up, we want every customer to feel like they’re the only one we serve.

‘That’s how you make sure they come back.’

Ready for a better petrol experience? Visit McKinnon Petrol for the kind of service you didn’t know you missed – until now.

And if you’re curious to learn more about McKinnon? Check out our Suburb Spy to find out what makes it such a special spot.