Toowoomba Independents Hold Unleaded at 225.5 While the Majors Ask 15 Cents More
Right, so if you're filling up on the Range this week, have a squiz at this first. There's a proper gap opening up between the independents and the big brands in Toowoomba.
As of 28th Sep 2026 8:09am AEST, a whole cluster of independent servos across town are sitting on 225.5 a litre for unleaded. That's Pearl Energy at Newtown, Harlaxton and Harristown, Pacific Fuels on Anzac Ave and up at Toowoomba North, Pacific Petroleum Newtown, and Rapid Petroleum in South Toowoomba. Seven servos on the one price, and they've been parked there for ten days straight.
The majors are another story. 7 Eleven Harristown is on 240.9, BP Northend is on 239.9, and BP Eastside Market, Caltex Rockville and 7 Eleven Wilsonton are all asking 245.9. Fair dinkum, that's more than 20 cents a litre between the cheapest and dearest unleaded in the one regional city.
How we got here
Here's the thing, right. Everyone went up over the last fortnight, but the majors went up further.
Pearl Energy Newtown was on 209.5 back on the 15th and 16th of Sep. It stepped up to 215.5, then 219.5, then landed on 225.5 on the 19th and hasn't budged since. That's 16 cents in about four days, and then nothing.
The big brands kept going. 7 Eleven Harristown was 215.9 on 15th Sep, hit 228.9 by the 18th, jumped to 241.9 on the 22nd and briefly touched 244.9 the day after. It's come off a cent to 240.9 over the weekend. BP Northend took a steadier path, starting at 221.9 on the 15th and climbing a few cents at a time to 241.9. It's back to 239.9 now.
So a fortnight ago there was about 6 cents between Pearl Energy and 7 Eleven Harristown. Now it's 15. The independents took their hit early and stopped, and the majors kept pushing.
Where the prices sit across town
You'd be mad not to check a map before you fill up in Toowoomba, because there's no neat cheap end and dear end of town. Harristown alone has servos on 225.5 (Pearl Energy), 227.9 (EG Ampol and Metro Petroleum), 239.9 (Caltex) and 241.9 (Ampol). That's 16 cents between them in the same suburb.
Roughly, the town splits three ways. At the cheap end, between 225.5 and 229.9, you've got Pearl Energy, Pacific Fuels, Rapid Petroleum, Metco and Metro Petroleum in South Toowoomba (229.5), Nightowl Shell East Toowoomba (229.9) and Pacific Fuels Drayton (229.9).
The middle band runs from 231.9 to 238.9. 7 Eleven Rangeville, EG Ampol Range and BP High Street are all on 231.9, Freedom Fuels Kearneys Spring is on 237.5 and BP Drayton is on 237.9.
Then there's the dear end, 239.9 to 245.9. That's most of the 7 Eleven servos, the Reddy Express sites on Margaret, Ruthven and Bridge St, BP Eastside, Caltex Rockville and EG Ampol Wilsonton.
7 Eleven Rangeville and EG Ampol Range are worth a look. At 231.9 they're well under most of the big brand sites, and EG Ampol Harristown is sharper again at 227.9. If you're chasing loyalty points or you'd just rather stick with a major, that's where I'd head.
What it means for your wallet
Say you've got a 60 litre tank in the ute or the family wagon. Filling at 225.5 instead of 245.9 saves you about $12.24. That's a couple of decent coffees on the way down the Range, or a round of schooners at the pub. Put your own numbers into the savings calculator and you'll see how quick it adds up.
If you're heading east, Freedom Fuels Withcott is on 229.5 and Metro Withcott next door is asking 235.9. That's another 6 cents sitting right at the bottom of the hill.
For the diesel drivers, the Queensland average is around 288.7 this morning, pretty steady on the week. I'll have a proper look at Toowoomba diesel another time. When you compare, check your servo's regular diesel price, not the premium stuff.
What I'd do
Over the last fortnight the Toowoomba independents moved early and then sat tight, while the majors drifted higher and eased back a cent or two at a time. There's no sign yet of the big brands coming back down to meet them, so I wouldn't hold off waiting for it.
Keep an eye on unleaded petrol prices across town, and the price trends page will show you where things head this week. If you're out Newtown or Harristown way anyway, the 225.5 sites are an easy win.
Look, end of the day, a bit of planning means more cash in your pocket for the important stuff. Can't argue with that.
