Damon Mcknight
The switch from gallons to litres for petrol sales in Australia occurred as a result of the country's adoption of the metric system, which uses litres, in the 1970s. This transition was a gradual process, with some sources indicating that petrol was still sold in gallons in the early 1980s, while others suggest the change to litres occurred as early as 1979. By the mid-1980s, many larger companies had transitioned to litres, while smaller, privately owned stations continued to sell in gallons to retain their customers. The exact timing of the switch likely varied across the country, with a combination of industry preferences and pump limitations influencing the change.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for the change | Insufficient digits on existing pumps when prices were approaching £1/gallon |
| Date of change | Gradual change from late 1970s to early 1990s |
| Legislation | No legislation date |
| Countries that have switched from gallons to litres | United Arab Emirates, Guyana, Myanmar, Ireland, United Kingdom |
| Date of switch in other countries | United Arab Emirates (2010), Guyana (2013), Myanmar (2014) |
| Definition of imperial gallon | 4.54609 litres |
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What You'll Learn
Australia used the imperial gallon, defined as 4.54609 litres
The switch to litres was not enforced by legislation but was driven by the industry. This change occurred after the metrification board, which had enforced other dispensing changes, was disbanded in 1980. As a result, there was no specific date for the switch, and it was a gradual transition.
The imperial gallon, measuring 4.54609 litres, was used in the United Kingdom and its former colonies, including Australia, until they transitioned to the metric system. The imperial gallon is larger than the US gallon, which is defined as 3.785411784 litres.
The transition to litres in Australia was likely influenced by similar changes in other countries and territories. For example, Puerto Rico ceased selling petrol by the US gallon in 1980, while the United Arab Emirates switched to litres in 2010, followed by Guyana in 2013 and Myanmar in 2014.
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The switch to litres was at the behest of the industry
The switch from gallons to litres for petrol in Australia happened in the early 1980s. This change was due to the winding up of the metrification board, which had enforced other dispensing changes, in 1980. The change was not enforced, but rather it was at the behest of the industry.
The switch to litres was likely driven by the fact that existing pumps did not have enough digits to display prices that were approaching £1/gallon. Indeed, the average price per gallon in 1979 was 98p, and in 1981 it was £1.60. Thus, the switch to litres in the early 1980s would have been a practical solution to the issue of insufficient digits on the pumps.
It is worth noting that this change may have occurred at different times for different petrol stations. Larger companies may have switched to litres earlier than smaller, privately owned stations, as they would have had more incentive to keep their customers happy by displaying more precise prices.
While the change was not enforced, it is possible that the government at the time benefited from the switch as it disguised the ever-rising fuel costs. Additionally, the change may have been profitable for petrol companies, as they could increase prices more discreetly. For example, a 2p/litre increase is equivalent to a 9p/gallon increase, or an extra £1 on an average tank of petrol.
Overall, the switch from gallons to litres for petrol in Australia was a gradual change that occurred in the early 1980s and was driven by the industry's need to display prices more precisely on existing pumps.
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No legislation date exists for the switch
The switch to litres was not enforced by legislation but rather occurred at the behest of the industry. This change happened after the metrification board, which had enforced other dispensing changes, was disbanded in 1980. As a result, there is no specific legislation date for the switch.
The transition to litres was likely influenced by the increasing price of petrol, which was approaching £1/gallon in the early 1980s. By switching to litres, the price increase could be disguised, as a rise of 2p/litre would only equate to a 9p/gallon increase.
While there is no exact date for the change, it is clear that the switch from gallons to litres in Australia occurred gradually throughout the 1980s, with some sources recalling a transition period where prices were displayed in both litres and gallons. By the early 1990s, most petrol stations had completed the switch to selling petrol by the litre.
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The switch likely happened in the early 1980s
The switch from gallons to litres for petrol in Australia likely happened in the early 1980s. This was a gradual change, with some larger companies and garages adopting the new metric system before smaller, privately-owned businesses.
In the UK, the switch to litres at the pump also occurred during the 1980s, with some recalling seeing both units advertised during this decade. One source notes that the switch to litres only happened in the early 1990s, with another suggesting 1991. However, the majority of sources indicate that the transition began earlier in the 1980s.
The change was not enforced, but rather occurred at the behest of the industry. This was due, in part, to the winding up of the metrification board, which had enforced other dispensing changes, and the insufficient number of digits on existing pumps when prices were approaching £1/gallon.
In 1979, the average price per gallon was 98p, and by 1981, it had risen to £1.60. This price increase, alongside the need for more digits on pumps, likely prompted the switch to litres, as a price increase of 2p/litre would only equate to 9p/gallon—a much smaller increase that motorists would be more likely to accept.
Other countries that have switched from gallons to litres for petrol sales include the United Arab Emirates in 2010, Guyana in 2013, and Myanmar in 2014.
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Some pumps changed to litres by 1991
In Australia, petrol pumps changed from gallons to litres by the early 1990s. This change was not enforced by legislation but was driven by the industry.
The switch from gallons to litres was a gradual process, with some pumps changing earlier than others. By the late 1980s, petrol was priced in litres, although the price per gallon was sometimes displayed alongside it. The exact timing of the change varied, with large companies likely changing to litres earlier than smaller, privately owned stations.
One source recalls buying petrol in litres and selling it in gallons in the late 1980s, indicating that the transition was already underway during this period. By 1990, one commenter remembers filling up their car in gallons, but the pump price was in litres. Another source mentions that in the early 1990s, some Tesco filling stations displayed a per-gallon price for unleaded fuel, but the pump price was still in litres.
The change to litres was advantageous for the government as it disguised the ever-rising fuel costs. Additionally, the metric system, which uses litres, was more familiar to consumers, making it a more convenient unit of measurement.
While the switch to litres for petrol sales occurred in the early 1990s, it is worth noting that garages were permitted to sell petrol by the gallon until 31 December 1994.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia, being a former colony of the UK, used the imperial gallon (imp gal) which is defined as 4.54609 litres. There was no enforced change to metrification, but it is believed that the switch happened in the early 1980s.
The switch was not due to any legislation but was at the behest of the industry. This happened after the metrification board that enforced other dispensing changes was wound up in 1980.
Yes, during the switch, some pumps had "1" and "p/gallon" printed on either side of the rolling figures.
The United Arab Emirates ceased selling petrol by the imperial gallon in 2010, Guyana followed suit in 2013, and Myanmar switched in 2014. In the European Union, the gallon was removed from the list of legally defined primary units of measure in 1994.
The imperial gallon is defined as 4.54609 litres, whereas the US gallon is defined as 3.785411784 litres.
