Community & Business
26 October, 2022
Hanging up the bowser, 30 years on
Da and Adam Butlin have certainly seen some changes in the industry after 28 years at Oakey’s BP Service Station.
The couple farewelled customers on Sunday, as they handed the business over to new owners.
They took on the business from Adam’s parents in July 1994 and “our kids literally grew up here,” Adam said.
“Customers would walk in, and walk past our son in the pram and prop up his bottle for him.
“I can remember standing here (behind the counter) with a child in one arm and serving with the other.”
Son Addison and daughter Fern are in their 20s now.
And the years ticked by, almost three decades in fact, as they watched children come in with their parents then eventually with families of their own.
Adam said the community of Oakey had been a great place to have a business.
The Butlins renovated during the 1990s and added a food outlet, Ushers’ Kitchen, named in honour of the family who established the service station in the
1950s.
He understood the service station would continue to operate with all the friendly staff staying on, but he was not sure what the new owners’ long term plans were for the half-acre site and adjoining house block.
Da and Adam met in Thailand while Adam was on a student exchange program and they went on to marry after Da finished her business degree in her homeland.
They are looking forward to their well-earned retirement.
“We don’t really have any plans… just a long holiday somewhere,” Adam said.
