{{Short description|Australian independent petroleum company}} {{Use Australian English|date=June 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}} {{Infobox company |name = Neptune Oil Company |logo = |image = Paynes Find 030923 Gnangarra-18.jpg |image_caption = Neptune fuel pump where it was originally installed in Paynes Find |type = Private |foundation = Melbourne, 1909 |founder = |location = Melbourne, Victoria |locations = Australia-wide |area_served = Australia |key_people = |industry = Automotive |products = Motor Oil and other related products |services = |revenue = |operating_income = |net_income = |assets = |equity = |owner = |num_employees = |parent = |divisions = |subsid = |homepage = |footnotes = }}
'''Neptune Oil Company''' was an Australian independent petroleum company based in Melbourne, Victoria. The company was established in 1909 as a privately owned company.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/petrol_oil_neptune.htm|title=Neptune|work=uniquecarsandparts.com.au}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://users.adam.com.au/gasmaps/austoilhist.htm|title=Gas Maps Plus|work=adam.com.au|access-date=4 June 2015|archive-date=9 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609112715/http://users.adam.com.au/gasmaps/austoilhist.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=213559|title=B2606-23 Oil can, 'Neptune Windmill Lubricating Oil', metal, made by the Neptune Oil Company, Australia, 1910-1950 - Powerhouse Museum Collection|work=powerhousemuseum.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://members.westnet.com.au/susprog/Neptune.htm |title=Neptune |access-date=4 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160227074410/http://members.westnet.com.au/susprog/Neptune.htm |archive-date=27 February 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/petrol_oil_timeline.htm|title=Petrol and Oil Company Time Line|work=uniquecarsandparts.com.au}}</ref>
The company was taken over by the Shell Oil company in 1975.<ref>{{Citation | author1=Australia. Trade Practices Commission | title=Applications by the Shell Company. of Australia Limited and Neptune Oil Company Pty. Limited for authorization pursuant to sub sections 88(1) and 88(6) of the Trade practices act 1974-1975 | date=1975 | publisher=the Commission | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/23108008 | accessdate=20 June 2015 }}</ref>
==Distribution== In the Australian states, the usual practice was for storage and transport from the local main port, for distribution through the state, with the head offices in the capital city.<ref>{{Citation | author1=Illustrations Ltd | author2=HRRC | title=Neptune Motor Oil tanker [picture] | date=1954 | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/15885142 | accessdate=20 June 2015 }} - see summary of photo for detail of city address</ref>
In many cases petrol stations with Neptune products were also dealing in second hand cars or other services.<ref>[http://innopac.slwa.wa.gov.au/record=b2493322~S2#.VYTX16ZpZLc] Pusey and Esberey automotive and diesel engineers and Neptune service station, Great Eastern Highway, Midland [picture]</ref><ref>[http://innopac.slwa.wa.gov.au/record=b2366631~S2#.VYTYIKZpZLc] Neptune service station and garage and used car sales, Stirling Highway, Nedlands [picture</ref>
A "King Neptune" statue at a Neptune (later Shell) service station was a landmark in the Adelaide suburb of Darlington until 1991.<ref>[http://blogs.abc.net.au/sa/2010/07/king-neptune-resurfaces.html King Neptune Resurfaces] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621122910/http://blogs.abc.net.au/sa/2010/07/king-neptune-resurfaces.html |date=21 June 2015 }}, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 30 July 2010</ref> The King Neptune statue now resides at Wills street Birkenhead, inside the gates of the Shell fuel depot.
==Publications== In the print era of the mid twentieth century, publications and promotions by the company were produced extensively in the 1950s and earlier<ref>{{Citation | author1=Brierley, Alec | title=Looking back on the early days : with the compliments of the Neptune Oil Company [early Australian history] | date=1900 | publisher=Neptune Oil Company | edition=11th | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/14780880 | accessdate=20 June 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | author1=Neptune Oil Company | author2=Brierley, Alex | title=Looking at sport | date=1956 | publisher=Neptune Oil Co | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/18209439 | accessdate=20 June 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | author1=Neptune Oil Company | title=Neptune lubricants recommendations | date=1970 | publisher=Neptune Oil Company | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/169927725 | accessdate=20 June 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | author1=Neptune Oil Company | title=The flow of oil- : a diagrammatic survey of the petroleum industry | date=1950 | publisher=Neptune Oil Co. Pty.Ltd | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/176696455 | accessdate=20 June 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | author1=Neptune Oil Company | title=Neptune outdoor manual and sports round-up | date=1950 | publisher=Neptune Oil Co | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/34669137 | accessdate=20 June 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | author1=Neptune Oil Company | title=The oozoo book of animals | date=1960 | publisher=Neptune Oil Co | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/34303274 | accessdate=20 June 2015 }}</ref>
Similarly, like Australia-wide oil retailers of the time, Neptune produced a series of road maps<ref>{{Citation | author1=Neptune Oil Company | title=Neptune road map South Australia | date=1960 | publisher=Neptune | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/31630010 | accessdate=20 June 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | author1=Neptune Oil Company | author2=Grosser, P. C., (lithographer.) | title=Neptune road map Queensland | date=1958 | publisher=Neptune | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/31659850 | accessdate=20 June 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | author1=Neptune Oil Company | title=Neptune road map Victoria | date=1958 | publisher=Neptune | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/30811511 | accessdate=20 June 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | author1=Neptune Oil Company | title=Neptune road map Tasmania | date=1960 | publisher=Neptune Oil Company | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/19383987 | accessdate=20 June 2015 }}</ref><ref>Neptune Lease Holder</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}} {{Portal|Australia|Companies|Energy}}
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Category:Defunct oil and gas companies of Australia Category:Motor oils Category:Shell plc subsidiaries Category:Companies based in Melbourne Category:Energy companies established in 1909 Category:Non-renewable resource companies established in 1909 Category:Non-renewable resource companies disestablished in 1975 Category:Australian companies established in 1909 Category:1975 disestablishments in Australia Category:Privately held companies of Australia Category:Automotive fuel retailers in Australia