Purtill Group

Our History

When Keith Purtill bought his first school bus in 1951 he founded a diverse business that is still successful today and one that is still very involved in supporting it’s local community.

Keith’s original idea was to start a trucking business, but during the time after World War II there was a shortage of trucks available in the country. Instead he bought a bus and started the Blighty to Deniliquin school bus run, beginning the important job of safely transporting the children of the Deniliquin, Hay & Wakool areas.

With a ready supply of buses standing idle during school hours and holiday periods, a move into tourism and travel was a natural progression. A second hand coach, the first of many was purchased in 1976 which started the travel arm of the company. 

In 70 years of business, the Purtill company has expanded to include service stations, Wired Entertainment and Caltex bulk fuel distribution throughout the Southern Riverina.

Through the years all of Keith and his wife Pat’s six sons have worked in the business at one time or another. Presently, his son Neville and his family along with the support of their wonderful team are those that are successfully guiding the company forward into the future.

  • 1951

    Keith Purtill buys his first bus and begins school bus service.

  • 1953

    Keith Purtill and Pat Purtill are married.

  • 1974

    Norm Purtill joins the business.

    Purtills begin fuel distribution.

    Purtills depot moves to corner of Wood & Edwardes Streets.

  • 1976

    Purtills first (second hand) coach purchased.

    Purtill family (Norm) establish Deniliquin Freighters.

  • 1978

    Neville Purtill joins the business.

  • 1980

    Ian Purtill joins the business.

    Geoff Purtill joins the business.

    Debbie Purtill joins the business.

  • 1981

    Alan (George) Purtill joins the business.

    Purtills purchase first service station in Davidson Street.

  • 1983

    Purtills begin Goodyear Tyre Service in Hardinge Street.

  • 1984

    Deniliquin Freighters partial sale to Russell Tait and Graham Lawson.

  • 1985

    Purtills depot moves to 162 Hardinge Street.

    Purtills purchase Jerilderie Service Station & Fuel Depot.

    Purtills purchase Mathoura Service Station.

    Purtills first in Deniliquin area to deliver fuel on farm with semi trailer.

    Brian Purtill joins the business.

  • 1986

    Hardinge Street Service Station & offices built.

  • 1987

    Purtills purchase Hay Fuel Depot.

    Purtills purchase Glencoe & Booligal school runs in Hay.

    Purtills purchase Wakool & Burraboi school runs.

  • 1988

    Keith Purtill passes away.

    Deniliquin Freighters final sale to Russell Tait & Graeme Lawson.

  • 1991

    Purtills start at South Hay.

    Purtills purchase North Deni Mazda.

    Purtills establish Hire Vehicle business.

  • 1994

    Purtills establish LPG Distribution business.

  • 1997

    Purtills build new Carwash in Hardinge Street.

  • 1999

    Norman, Ian and Alan (George) Purtill leave the business.

  • 2000

    Geoff Purtill leaves the business.

    Purtills sell Goodyear Tyre Service business.

  • 2001

    Purtills purchase East End Store service station in Deniliquin.

  • 2003

    Purtills purchase Leading Edge Video (Pinkies Video) in Deniliquin.

    Purtills 3rd Generation - Matthew Purtill joins the family business.

  • 2004

    Purtills purchase Hussey Roadliners (6 school runs and Mathoura & Deniliquin town runs).

    Purtills sells LPG Distribution business.

    Purtills purchase Deniliquin Junction Service Centre.

    Purtills upgrades Carwash in Hardinge Street.

  • 2006

    Purtills purchase Leading Edge Electronics (formerly Dick Smith).

  • 2007

    Wired Entertainment established with merge of LEV and LEE businesses.

    Wired Entertainment building (former Riverina Truck & Tractor) purchased and renovated at Corner George & Hardinge Streets.

  • 2008

    Purtills depot moves to 89 McCrabb Road.

    Purtills first in Deniliquin area to deliver fuel on farm with B-Double tankers.

  • 2013

    Brian Purtill leaves the business.

  • 2015

    Purtills purchase Dwyers Hay (Maude, Boorooban & Balranald-Ivanhoe school runs).

    Purtills starts The Depot project.

  • 2016

    Purtills purchase Bickleys Finley bus business (now 55+ buses and three depots).

    Purtills support the establishment of Evolve Fitness & Wellbeing in Deniliquin.

  • 2018

    Jenna Purtill takes over the management of Evolve Fitness & Wellbeing.

  • 2019

    Pat Purtill passes away.

    Purtills fleet of 55 vehicles sold to the Dyson Group.

    Purtills depot moves back to 162 Hardinge Street.

    Purtills recommence running first Road Train from Caltex Newport, VIC to southern Riverina.

  • 2020

    The Depot officially opens.

    Cobb Highway Roadhouse undergoes renovations, Cruizin' Diner is launched as part of the Cobb Highway Roadhouse.

  • 2021

    Purtills take over Griffith service station.

    Purtills open their first unmanned diesel stop in Moama.

  • 2022

    All Caltex service stations are re-branded to Ampol.

    Finley unmanned diesel stop is opened.

    East End Store service station is demolished.

  • 2023

    Jerilderie service station is converted to an unmanned fuel stop and building is demolished.