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.
Keith Purtill buys his first bus and begins school bus service.
Keith Purtill and Pat Purtill are married.
Norm Purtill joins the business.
Purtills begin fuel distribution.
Purtills depot moves to corner of Wood & Edwardes Streets.
Purtills first (second hand) coach purchased.
Purtill family (Norm) establish Deniliquin Freighters.
Neville Purtill joins the business.
Ian Purtill joins the business.
Geoff Purtill joins the business.
Debbie Purtill joins the business.
Alan (George) Purtill joins the business.
Purtills purchase first service station in Davidson Street.
Purtills begin Goodyear Tyre Service in Hardinge Street.
Deniliquin Freighters partial sale to Russell Tait and Graham Lawson.
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.
Hardinge Street Service Station & offices built.
Purtills purchase Hay Fuel Depot.
Purtills purchase Glencoe & Booligal school runs in Hay.
Purtills purchase Wakool & Burraboi school runs.
Keith Purtill passes away.
Deniliquin Freighters final sale to Russell Tait & Graeme Lawson.
Purtills start at South Hay.
Purtills purchase North Deni Mazda.
Purtills establish Hire Vehicle business.
Purtills establish LPG Distribution business.
Purtills build new Carwash in Hardinge Street.
Norman, Ian and Alan (George) Purtill leave the business.
Geoff Purtill leaves the business.
Purtills sell Goodyear Tyre Service business.
Purtills purchase East End Store service station in Deniliquin.
Purtills purchase Leading Edge Video (Pinkies Video) in Deniliquin.
Purtills 3rd Generation - Matthew Purtill joins the family business.
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.
Purtills purchase Leading Edge Electronics (formerly Dick Smith).
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.
Purtills depot moves to 89 McCrabb Road.
Purtills first in Deniliquin area to deliver fuel on farm with B-Double tankers.
Brian Purtill leaves the business.
Purtills purchase Dwyers Hay (Maude, Boorooban & Balranald-Ivanhoe school runs).
Purtills starts The Depot project.
Purtills purchase Bickleys Finley bus business (now 55+ buses and three depots).
Purtills support the establishment of Evolve Fitness & Wellbeing in Deniliquin.
Jenna Purtill takes over the management of Evolve Fitness & Wellbeing.
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.
The Depot officially opens.
Cobb Highway Roadhouse undergoes renovations, Cruizin' Diner is launched as part of the Cobb Highway Roadhouse.
Purtills take over Griffith service station.
Purtills open their first unmanned diesel stop in Moama.
All Caltex service stations are re-branded to Ampol.
Finley unmanned diesel stop is opened.
East End Store service station is demolished.
Jerilderie service station is converted to an unmanned fuel stop and building is demolished.