Willaston Service Station

**Fast Facts**
Place type:	Building
Town or Locality:	Willaston

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Willaston Service Station

According to “Glimpses of Gawler and District”, compiled by Stan Roulston, the original building was erected in 1922. In 1924 Ted and Jack Deickman added two more rooms and commenced the service station business. They later added a bakehouse on the Paxton Street end of the site.

Looking closely at the photograph there is a sign advertising a hairdressing business, “Hairdressing Salon”, on the left hand side of the service station building. In 1934 Mr. Harold Weaver moved in. During World War II the station was closed due to petrol rationing. There was a monthly quota of 200 gallons.

Mr. Tom Garden took over the business in December 1950. The Willaston Service Station was the first in South Australia to be issued with a licence to open 24 hours a day for petrol sales.

In 1951 a service bay was added on the north side of the service station. Any mechanical repairs were carried out in the main building. Later, a workshop was built on Redbanks Road by Mr. Garden at a cost of £304. An Ampol petrol depot was built on the same block.

Mr. Kevin Selway then operated the service station from 1959 until 1968. Other owner/operators included Mr. Don Higgins, Mr. Bob Hunt and Mr. Sid Ey.

Click here to see photos of Willaston service Station over the years.

Click here to read Memories of Gawler 1923+ by Colin Hillier re Willaston Service Station on page 44. https://drive.google.com/open?id=1t46sIGz7_J3T34GOYtfOLIj27BDiXAxy