Footscray and Ballarat Diesel Falls Below $2 as Victoria Bucks a Nationwide Price Surge
A comprehensive analysis of this morning's fuel pricing data reveals a striking divergence between Victoria and the rest of the country. While diesel prices surged by double digits across Western Australia, New South Wales, and Tasmania, Victorian servos quietly moved in the opposite direction, dropping their average diesel price by 2.3 cents per litre overnight.
According to recent data collected on 11th Mar 2026, the national picture for diesel is one of broad increases. WA recorded the sharpest jump at 15.8 cents, pushing the state average to 241.0 cents per litre. NSW was not far behind with a 13.7 cent increase to 237.6 cents, while TAS climbed 11.6 cents to 233.5 cents. Against that backdrop, Victoria's 2.3 cent decrease to a 222.2 cent average is a genuine outlier that demands closer examination.
The suburbs where the savings are real
Drilling down into the specifics, the data paints a clear picture of where Victorian motorists can find the cheapest diesel in the country right now. Footscray leads the way with the cheapest servo offering diesel at 196.9 cents per litre, a full 29 cents below the suburb's most expensive outlet at 225.9 cents. That 29 cent spread within a single suburb is a reminder that shopping around remains essential, even in the cheapest postcodes.
Horsham, in regional western Victoria, matches Footscray's floor price at 196.9 cents, though its spread is wider at 41 cents with the priciest servo charging 237.9 cents. Ballarat tells a similar story. The regional city's cheapest diesel sits at 198.9 cents, but the most expensive outlet charges 245.9 cents, creating a 47 cent gap that would cost a truck driver with a 90 litre tank more than $42 depending on which servo they pulled into.
Closer to Melbourne, Coburg has diesel from 199.5 cents, while Warrnambool on the south west coast offers 199.9 cents at its cheapest servo. Campbellfield, a key transport hub in Melbourne's industrial north, averages 225.0 cents but its cheapest outlet undercuts that at 205.5 cents.
Why Victoria is different
Breaking down the regional differences, Victoria's average of 222.2 cents makes it the cheapest state in the country for diesel right now. The ACT sits at 225.9 cents, TAS at 233.5 cents, NSW at 237.6 cents, and WA at 241.0 cents. The Northern Territory remains the most expensive at 256.3 cents, though its price spread of 251.7 cents, from a low of 147.3 cents to a high of 399.0 cents, reflects the vast distances and limited competition in remote areas.
Industry factors point to Victoria's competitive retail market as a key driver. The state's dense network of servos, particularly across Melbourne's western and northern suburbs, creates pricing pressure that benefits motorists. Suburbs like Altona North (218.9 cents cheapest, 7 cent spread), Truganina (219.9 cents, 6 cent spread), and Reservoir (221.9 cents, 4 cent spread) show the tightest pricing bands in the country, a sign of genuine competition keeping prices honest.
The western suburbs corridor
Historical data suggests Melbourne's western industrial corridor consistently delivers the best diesel value in the state. Laverton North, home to major freight and logistics operations, averages 225.2 cents with a cheapest price of 216.9 cents. Broadmeadows averages 227.4 cents across six servos, with the cheapest at 219.9 cents.
This pattern is consistent with what we have observed across previous reporting periods. Transport heavy suburbs with high diesel throughput tend to price more aggressively, creating a natural discount zone that extends from Footscray through Altona North and out to Laverton North.
What this means for your wallet
For a motorist filling a standard 60 litre tank with diesel, the difference between Victoria's cheapest price (196.9 cents in Footscray) and the NSW average (237.6 cents) works out to roughly $24.40 per fill. Even comparing Victoria's state average of 222.2 cents against NSW's 237.6 cents, the saving is $9.24 per tank.
Regional Victorian towns are also holding their own. Swan Hill averages 228.6 cents and Morwell averages 218.6 cents, both well below the national picture.
For motorists willing to shop around, the data clearly demonstrates that location and timing remain the two most important factors in fuel savings. Victoria's position as today's diesel price leader may not last indefinitely, but right now, the numbers are firmly in favour of drivers south of the Murray.
