There are few things in our state’s history as significant as the establishment of the BP oil refinery in Kwinana in the 1950s. Not only was the refinery an enormous development itself, but the opening of Cockburn Sound to shipping that came with it soon saw the arrival of further industry, and the Kwinana industrial strip was born. The strip has since grown dramatically, becoming the powerhouse of the booming WA economy.

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The small community of Medina was born as well, carved out of bushland to house the first BP Refinery workers. That fledgling community of 3,000 has since grown to become the City of Kwinana, now housing over 50,000 residents.

Over the decades, the BP Refinery underwent multiple expansions and upgrades. Keeping pace with changes in technology and adjusting to evolving demands for fuels and their specifications.  The Good Oil – The history, people and stories of the BP Refinery Kwinana 1951-2021 tells of the changing shape of the Refinery year by year, the almost non-stop series of developments, projects and improvements that ensured it remained Australia’s premier refinery for 66 years.

But The Good Oil goes on to do so much more. Stories involving significant events, hilarious moments, characters, tragedies, jokes, mistakes and mishaps, as well as the everyday work of bygone times, are shared in the words of the people that were there. Hundreds of anecdotes describe such things as the shifting sands of the construction site; the arrival of the first crude tanker; the lavish official opening; the very British management and their uniformed chauffeurs; the ever popular tea ladies and their trollies; the lighting up of the flare for astronaut John Glenn; the well-groomed girls of the typing pools; and what it was like in the workplace before the days of air conditioning, computers and copiers, when offices were filled with filing cabinets, ash trays and cigarette smoke.

Tales involving the Refinery Social Club, the Employees Credit Union, the Sickness Benefits Society, the Charity Committee, Christmas Dinner Dances, the famous BP Kid's Christmas Picnics, Days v Shift sporting contests, the Boat Club, the Tea Tree Tavern, the Medina Male Choir; the BP Brass Band, the Apprentice Training Centre, the Golden Trough and fishing from the Refinery’s jetties all illustrate why the BP Refinery Kwinana was such a special place to work. There are insights about interstate golf competitions, industrial relations, fire drill competitions, SAS training exercises, community sponsorships and donations, shutdowns, VIP visitors, shenanigans on nightshift, encounters with wildlife and the changing role of women in the workforce. The list goes on.    

Containing 534 images, the good oil is also a feast for the eyes. Anecdotes from 230 former employees, plus a healthy narrative from the author, have been jam packed into 324 pages of fascinating material with references to an amazing 1,980 people.

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Whether you are a former employee, a family member, or a person with an interest in our local history, you will find The Good Oil to be a fascinating read and a treasured keepsake - a tribute to a much-loved era that is now behind us.