Our Story

Founded by our Members, for our Members

Capricorn was established in 1974 by a small group of Western Australian service station owners to increase their buying power and level the playing field with the big multinational oil companies. We are a member based organisation proudly operating by cooperative principles to primarily support businesses in the automotive industry. Our approach allows our Members to better manage their businesses by saving time and money.

We offer our Members a broader range of services, including equipment finance, travel services and business protection. Operating on cooperative principles means our Members are the owners too and are eligible to receive dividends, if declared. Members also enjoy regular social and networking events.

Today, we have over 30,000 Members and over 2,000 committed Preferred Suppliers across Australia and New Zealand, all looking to support the automotive industry. The story behind our fantastic organisation is one in which we love to share. To read more about it, you can download a copy of the “First 30” book, or email csl@capricorn.coop to request your own personal copy.

    • 1970
      • Golden Fleece service station proprietors meet at conference in South Perth, Western Australia.
      • Group 11 formed being the precursor of Capricorn Society Cooperative.
    • 1974
      • A group of 17 like-minded service station operators meet and resolve to register the 'Capricorn Co-operative Limited'.
    • 1975
      • Capricorn leases its first premises, in Stirling Street, Perth, Western Australia
    • 1982
      • The Cooperative reports its first dividend to approximately 200 members.
      • Capricorn opens up its membership to mechanical workshops and later to the panel beating and other automotive industry areas.
      • Capricorn bought new premises in Abernethy Road, Belmont, Western Australia.
    • 1984
      • Abernethy Travel, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Capricorn Society is formed.
      • First Capricorn Convention hosted in Bali.
    • 1985
      • Move to premises in Welshpool Road, Welshpool, Western Australia.
    • 1987
      • Expand into the Eastern States markets.
      • Capricorn begins its operations in New South Wales.
    • 1988
      • Membership passes the 500 mark.
    • 1989
      • South Australian launch at the Adelaide Hotel.
    • 1990
      • Victoria joins the Capricorn network.
    • 1991
      • Queensland and Tasmania join the Capricorn network.
      • Membership passes the 1,000 mark and turnover of more than $AU50 million.
      • ACT forms part of the NSW zone and NT forms part of the SA zone.
    • 1992
      • Launch of Panel and Paint Division.
    • 1993
      • Membership passes 2,000.
    • 1994
      • Membership reaches 3,000.
      • Panel and Paint Division operating in all Australian states.
    • 1995
      • Capricorn Society buys 'Capricorn House' in Burswood Road, Victoria Park, Western Australia.
    • 1997
      • Capricorn expands offshore into New Zealand.
    • 1999
      • Launch of the website capricorn.com.au (currently capricorn.coop)
    • 2000
      • Capricorn is registered in the Republic of South Africa.
    • 2001
      • Membership passes 6,000.
      • Trent Bartlett appointed Capricorn Group CEO.
    • 2003
      • Capricorn Mutual Limited becomes operational and licenced as an Australian Financial Services licensee, the first as a miscellaneous mutual risk product provider.
      • Preferred Suppliers pass 1,200.
    • 2004
      • Capricorn rolls out CAPLink technology.
      • Membership passes 9,000.
      • Capricorn listed 66th in Business Review Weekly's list of Australia's Top 500 Private Companies.
    • 2005
      • Capricorn Member purchases exceed $AU500 million.
    • 2006
      • Capricorn Society Limited (ACN 008 347 313) is incorporated.
      • Capricorn Mutual membership passes 3,000.
      • Capricorn becomes a full Australian member of the International Cooperative Alliance.
    • 2007
      • Capricorn Mutual obtains membership with the International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation.
      • First Capricorn share buybacks occur.
    • 2008
      • Capricorn to expand into mutual management and financial services.
      • Capricorn Society Financial Services Pty Ltd (ACN 129 134 667) is incorporated.
      • Capricorn Mutual Management Pty Ltd (ACN 129 143 479) is incorporated.
      • Capricorn lodges its first Short Form Prospectus with ASIC.
      • Capricorn Mutual membership passes 4,000.
    • 2009
      • Membership passes 12,000.
      • Capricorn declares its first fully franked dividend.
      • Capricorn Technology Services Pty Ltd (ACN 140 316 942) ('CTS') is incorporated.
    • 2010
      • Social Business Australia Pty Ltd (ACN 142 242 108) is incorporated.
      • Capricorn member purchases exceed $AU950 million.
      • Membership passes 13,000 and Capricorn Preferred Suppliers pass 2,000.
    • 2011
      • Capricorn member purchases exceed $AU1 billion.
      • Capricorn Insurance Services Pty Ltd incorporated.
      • Trent Bartlett retires as Capricorn Group CEO.
      • Greg Wall appointed as new Capricorn Group CEO.
    • 2012
      • Launch of Capricorn Fuel Card in Australia.
    • 2013
      • Establishment of Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals Ltd.
      • Member purchases exceed $AU1.2 billion.
      • Capricorn Management Services Pty Limited changes its name to Capricorn Risk Services Pty Limited.
    • 2014
      • Member purchases exceed A$1.3 billion.
      • Capricorn Risk Services is launched.
      • After almost 20 years in Capricorn House in Burswood, Capricorn moves to a new head office location at 28 Troode Street, West Perth.
    • 2015
      • Member purchases exceed $AU1.4 billion.
      • Launch of Capricorn Mobil Fuel Card in New Zealand.
    • 2016
      • Membership passes 18,500.
      • Member purchases exceed $AU1.54 billion.
      • Launch of Capricorn Service Data and Capricorn Vehicle Videos.
    • 2018
      • Launch of AutoBoost.
      • Inaugural Capricorn Rising Stars Award Apprentice of the Year awarded to Mark Smith (ACT).
    • 2019
      • Member purchases exceed $AU2 billion.
      • Capricorn Group CEO Greg Wall awarded a member of The Order of Australia.
      • Greg Wall retires as Capricorn Group CEO.
      • First trade rebate of $AU5 million paid back to Members, based upon Member Trade Account spend for completed financial year.
      • David Fraser appointed Capricorn Group CEO.
      • Capricorn Rising Stars Apprentice of the Year awarded to Jeremy Drabsch (QLD).
    • 2020
      • Launch of new brand positioning - Stronger with Capricorn.
      • Launch of Capricorn Rewards.
      • Launch of CAPHub.
      • Membership passes 22,000.
      • Capricorn Rising Stars Apprentice of the Year awarded to Gabrielle Clift (QLD).
    • 2021
      • Member purchases exceed $AU2.59 billion.
      • Membership passes 23,500.
      • Capricorn Rising Stars Apprentice of the Year awarded to Ben Brown (NZ).
      • Trade rebate of $AU15 million paid to Members.
    • 2022
      • Capricorn Convention hosted in Hayman Island.
      • Capricorn New Zealand celebrates its 25th anniversary .
      • Membership passes 25,000.
      • Capricorn Rising Stars Apprentice of the Year awarded to Marama Thompson (NZ).
      • Trade rebate of $AU15 million paid to Members.
    • 2023
      • Membership passes 26,000.
      • Member purchases exceed $AU3.4 billion.
      • Capricorn Finance launches business vehicle finance.
      • Capricorn Rising Stars Apprentice of the Year awarded to Chelsea Bowers (QLD).
      • Joint venture with Repairify.
      • Trade rebate of $AU17 million paid to Members.
    • 2024
      • Capricorn Convention hosted in Hawaii.
      • Capricorn moves to new head office at 141 St Georges Terrace, Perth, Western Australia.
      • Celebrates 50 Years Strong.
      • Launch of Capricorn Rewards+.
      • Membership passes 30,000.