Preston Unleaded Jumps 18 Cents While Victoria's Fuel Spread Blows Out to 190 Cents Across a Single State

Preston Unleaded Jumps 18 Cents While Victoria's Fuel Spread Blows Out to 190 Cents Across a Single State

A comprehensive analysis of Thursday afternoon's fuel pricing data reveals some significant regional variations that motorists should be aware of, with the inner northern Melbourne suburb of Preston recording one of the sharpest single cycle price increases observed in the country this week. According to recent data captured at 02:06 PM AEDT on 23rd April 2026, Preston unleaded petrol has climbed from 165.6 cents to 183.7 cents across its eight monitored stations, an 18.1 cent jump that coincides with Victoria's statewide diesel average actually falling 2.0 cents in the opposite direction.

The pattern is consistent with what industry observers typically describe as a localised price cycle peak, though the magnitude in Preston is unusual for a single cycle. Drilling down into the specifics, Preston's premium unleaded 95 has surged 37.0 cents to reach 206.5 cents, while premium 98 climbed 22.2 cents to 207.4 cents. Diesel in the suburb has tracked the same direction, rising 35.8 cents from 237.2 cents to 273.0 cents across seven stations. Every fuel grade in Preston moved upward in a single cycle, which is the hallmark of a coordinated price reset rather than a supply driven shift.

The Victoria wide picture

Breaking down the regional differences, Victoria's diesel spread has now reached 190.1 cents per litre, by far the widest of any Australian state or territory. The cheapest diesel in Victoria is sitting at 159.9 cents in Dandenong South, while the most expensive reaches 350.0 cents at remote sites. That 135 cent gap within a single suburb is itself notable, with Dandenong South's 12 monitored stations showing an average of 257.7 cents despite one outlier pushing the floor down dramatically.

For Melbourne motorists willing to shop around, the data paints a clear picture. Diesel at Moolap on the Geelong fringe is currently averaging 251.1 cents with a cheapest listing of 203.9 cents, while Fawkner in the northern suburbs shows a cheapest price of 206.9 cents across three stations. Brooklyn in the inner west is holding steadier at 258.7 cents average across its three monitored sites, with very little spread between them.

That Preston's inner northern position sits well above those outer metropolitan lows is important context. Historical data suggests Preston tends to peak and trough in tandem with the broader Melbourne metropolitan cycle, so motorists in the area may be looking at a 5 to 10 day window of elevated pricing before the next reset flows through.

Regional Victoria joins the upward shift

The movement is not confined to metropolitan Melbourne. In regional Victoria, Benalla has recorded a 19.9 cent rise in premium unleaded 95, taking it to 226.3 cents across five stations. Breaking down the numbers by geography, the state average for diesel now sits at 277.8 cents across 1,266 monitored stations, slightly lower than NSW at 279.5 cents and South Australia at 279.9 cents.

Historical comparison with earlier in April shows Victoria has remained one of the more volatile markets in the country, with the 190 cent spread now representing the largest gap between cheapest and most expensive listings Petrolmate has tracked in the state this month.

How Victoria compares with the rest of the country

The broader national picture adds further context. Western Australia has recorded the week's largest statewide diesel decline at 20.0 cents, bringing its average to 273.7 cents across 797 stations, with suburbs such as Beckenham, Forrestfield and Kwinana Beach all now sitting below 240 cents at their cheapest sites. Queensland diesel, by contrast, has edged upward by 4.4 cents to 277.1 cents, and South Australia has climbed 6.1 cents to 279.9 cents.

The Australian Capital Territory is worth noting as an outlier, with an average diesel price of 271.8 cents across its 22 stations and a relatively tight 31 cent spread between cheapest and most expensive. That pattern is consistent with Canberra's smaller and less cyclical market, where prices tend to drift rather than swing.

What this means at the bowser

For motorists filling a 60 litre tank in Preston right now, the 18.1 cent rise in unleaded translates to roughly $10.86 more per fill than a week ago. Driving 15 minutes out to Fawkner or further afield to Dandenong South could recoup much of that, though the calculation only works if the detour is incidental rather than deliberate.

For motorists willing to shop around, the data clearly demonstrates that location and timing remain the two most important factors in fuel savings. Petrolmate's interactive fuel map is updating twice daily from official state government feeds and community contributed sources, so keeping an eye on the suburbs adjacent to your usual route remains the most practical way to dodge a cycle peak.