Gatton Petrol Slips to 200.2 as Darling Downs Diesel Eases Across the Board
Right, so last time I was here I was banging on about the Gold Coast finally getting a decent drop. This week the good news has packed up and moved inland. If you live or drive anywhere along the Warrego Highway west of Brisbane, you're the one doing alright out of it, and I reckon it's worth five minutes of your smoko to hear why.
Gatton is the one to watch
As of Saturday morning, 22nd Aug 2026, unleaded in Gatton has eased 6.7 cents to an average of 200.2 across the town's six servos. That's a whisker off having a one at the front of the board again, and with most of the country still paying well over 205 for standard unleaded, it's one of the sharpest averages we're tracking anywhere in Queensland right now. If you're doing the Lockyer Valley run, fill up in town before you get back on the highway. On a 50 litre tank, that 6.7 cent drop is about three bucks fifty, which is a coffee and change for doing nothing different.
The Downs diesel has come off the boil
Now here's the thing, right. It's not just the petrol either. The whole Darling Downs diesel picture has come off the boil at once. Charlton, out on Toowoomba's western edge where all the trucks pull in, has knocked 12.6 cents off to land at 249.3, the biggest move of the lot. Dalby is down 9.4 cents to 249.0 across ten servos, Goondiwindi has eased 8.2 to 248.2, and even Roma further out has come back 5.8 cents to 252.3. Gatton's own diesel dropped 5.5 cents to 244.4 while it was at it.
Line that up against the state picture. The Queensland diesel average this morning is 253.0, so nearly all of those inland towns are now sitting at or under it. Not long ago you'd cop a premium for filling up out that way. Right now the inland towns are the ones doing the right thing by drivers.
If you're running a ute or towing, the Charlton drop is worth around ten bucks on an 80 litre fill. That's a counter lunch back in your pocket, fair dinkum, just for pulling into the same servo you always use.
Closer to Brisbane it's steadier going
Down in the southeast corner there's less to get excited about. Closer to Brisbane, Rocklea has diesel starting at 234.5, Beaudesert is still holding pumps at 235.9, and both Deception Bay and Pimpama have sites at 237.5. If you're out that way anyway, they're the ones to aim for, because plenty of servos around them are still asking 249.9 for the same fuel.
Quick one for the premium crowd, because there's movement there too. Rockhampton premium 95 has come back 7.9 cents to 220.0, Tingalpa premium 98 is down to 219.2, and Gympie 98 has eased 6.1 to 225.8. Small corner of the market, I know, but if your car demands the good stuff you deserve a win now and then too.
How Queensland stacks up
For diesel, Victoria is averaging 250.7, NSW is on 251.8 and Queensland sits at 253.0, with Western Australia and South Australia both on 254.8. We're mid pack as a state, but the inland corridor is punching well under that, and that's where the story is this week.
What I'd do about it
My advice is the usual. Don't just swing into the first servo off the highway and cop whatever's on the board. Have a squiz at the unleaded petrol prices page before you leave, check diesel prices if you're in the ute, and keep an eye on price trends to see whether your town is on the way up or the way down.
Look, end of the day, the drops always start somewhere before they spread. This week it's Gatton and the Downs getting the head start. If that's your patch, get in while it's good. If it's not, hang tight, because your turn's usually not far behind.
