Melbourne Unleaded Drops Nearly 20 Cents in St Albans and Reservoir While Regional Victoria Joins the Party
Right, so if you've been watching petrol prices this week and reckon they've been coming down, you're not imagining things. Victoria is having a proper moment right now, and some of the drops in Melbourne suburbs are the kind of thing that makes you do a double take at the bowser.
Let's start with the big ones. St Albans unleaded has come down 18.6 cents to sit around 215.3 cents a litre across seven servos. That's not a typo. Nearly 19 cents off in one hit. If you're filling a 60 litre tank out that way, that's over eleven bucks back in your pocket compared to last week. That's a couple of decent coffees or, if you're like me, a Friday arvo schooner and change.
Reservoir is telling a similar story. Unleaded there has dropped 16.4 cents to 215.5 cents across eight stations. Now, Reservoir has always been one of those suburbs where the servos keep each other honest because there's enough competition within a few blocks. When one drops, they all follow pretty quick, and that's exactly what's happened here.
But here's the thing, right. This isn't just a metro story.
Regional Victoria Getting in on the Action
Ararat has quietly posted the biggest unleaded drop in the state. We're talking 21.6 cents off, bringing the average down to 214.5 cents across six stations. For a regional town, that's genuinely impressive. You'd normally expect to pay a premium out in the western districts, but right now Ararat motorists are paying less than plenty of inner Melbourne suburbs.
Worth keeping an eye on Shepparton too, though it's a bit of a mixed bag up there. E10 has gone up 13.4 cents to 218.9 cents, which is a decent jump. Premium 95 has also climbed about 12 cents. So if you're a Shepparton local, it might be worth checking whether the standard unleaded is a better deal than E10 right now, because the savings on ethanol blend have basically disappeared this week.
Melbourne's West Leading the Charge
The western suburbs have been solid value for a while now, and this week is no different. Beyond St Albans, Hoppers Crossing has seen Premium 95 drop 12.1 cents to 230.8 cents. Now, you'd be mad not to check the standard unleaded price first, but if your car needs the 95, Hoppers Crossing is doing the right thing.
Truganina is another one worth a look. Diesel there is averaging 305.5 cents across ten stations, with the cheapest at 296.9. For anyone running a tradie ute through the western growth corridor, that's competitive.
Further south, Cranbourne West has three servos sitting within 40 cents of each other on diesel at 297.8 average. That kind of tight pricing tells you the competition is working properly out there.
The Standout Bargain Hunters Won't Believe
Fair dinkum, if you're anywhere near Moolap down on the Bellarine Peninsula, someone has diesel listed at 203.9 cents. That's over a dollar cheaper than the state average of 314.4 cents. Now, I'd suggest checking that's still live before you drive out there, but if it is, that's an absolute steal.
Kialla near Shepparton has diesel averaging 280.2 cents too, which is well below what most of the state is paying.
What It All Means
Victoria is sitting pretty right now as the cheapest state for diesel at 314.4 cents average, beating ACT at 309.5 (but with only 22 stations that's a smaller sample). More importantly for most of us, the unleaded drops in the northern and western suburbs suggest we're on the downward side of the cycle.
If you're in Melbourne and haven't filled up yet, now's a decent time. The drops in St Albans, Reservoir, and the outer west are genuine, and regional towns like Ararat are proving you don't always cop it worse just because you're outside the city.
Look, end of the day, a bit of planning means more cash in your pocket for the important stuff. Check the interactive fuel map before you head out, and if you're passing through the western suburbs, fill up there. Can't argue with that.
