Caltex has released a documentary film that tells the story of the former Kurnell oil refinery through the eyes of its workers.
Film maker John Marsh was commissioned to produce the 90-minute documentary, titled Kurnell Refinery: The Heart That Beats Within.
The 90 minute film covers the history of the refinery, from 1953 to its closure in 2014, when the site was converted into the largest fuel import terminal in Australia.
Copies have been given to the NSW Heritage Council, State Library and Sutherland Shire Library.
The film complements a commemorative book and photography collection, which were handed over to the same organisations.
Caltex said the film was “a tribute to the site, the people who worked there and the Sutherland Shire community”.
The film starts, “When World War 11 finished in 1945 and Australia’s economy began to grow, it became clear that there was a burgeoning market for fuel.
“Construction of the Kurnell Refinery started in 1953 and refining began in 1956.
”During that time and up until its closure in 2014, the Kurnell refinery has been the workplace, and some would say second home, to many thousands of people- people who have been the lifeblood of the place, its very heart and soul.”
Workers, who spent up to 40 years on the site, tell their stories.
One family contributed a total of 140 years service “between dad and the three boys”.
A worker laments: ”It’s very sad – you have worked here for so long, to see the things we built and we commissioned, and now everything goes full cycle, it changes, it gets pulled down, it converts to something else.
“At least Kurnell will continue, and it will continue in the form of probably one of the largest terminals going around.”
Another worker says: “For me it was more about doing something that was going to make the site viable one way or another.
“And, if this was the way it would stay open and people would stay employed, and the history would continue in some form, then to me that was the way we needed to go as a business.
“I thought a very sad outcome would be simply to close it down, bulldoze it and walk away from the site, in which case all the history and all the opportunity is lost.”
A reflection from another worker: “It’s a sad time, a really sad time, because it’s been a fun time all along. It’s done my life – I wouldn’t change it. Simple as that.”
The last refinery manager Greg King thought the film did justice to those who worked there.
“What I like most about the film is that, while it does give a sense of the breadth and complexity of the refinery, it really showcases the people who were instrumental in its many years of successful operation,” he said.
Mr King said the facility had made a significant contribution to the coastal township, the wider community and the entire state by providing a reliable supply of fuel and thousands of jobs for people over almost 60 years of operation.
“Keeping the refinery operating provided us all with satisfying and interesting jobs,” he said.
“It challenged us and sometimes frustrated us.
“But when we reflect on our time at Kurnell, what we all seem to remember the most is the people, the sense of community and the friendships.”
