1970
Golden Fleece service station proprietors meet at a training course in Perth, Western Australia.
Our story
From little things, big things grow.
When Golden Fleece service station owners met for a post-training course drink at the Windsor Hotel in South Perth in 1970, none of them could have imagined that they were embarking on a journey that would one day produce a cooperative with more than 30,000 Members across Australia and New Zealand.
They felt that they couldn’t compete with larger corporations, and they instinctively understood that their best chance at long-term survival lay in working together.
Their desire to level the playing field by pooling their resources led to them forming a cooperative buying group. By 1974, the group had grown to 17 like-minded service station owners who met and resolved to formally register the ‘Capricorn Society Cooperative’.
The rest, as they say, is history. Capricorn is now a thriving Community who work across the repair industry in Australia and New Zealand.
Over
30,000
Members
Over
2,000
Preferred Suppliers
Over
500
Employees
But the one thing that hasn’t changed is our mission to help our Members grow stronger businesses by harnessing the power of working together.
Today, we’re not just for the automotive industry - our Members span mechanical workshops, collision repair centers, trucking, agribusiness, mining, construction and so much more. No matter what industry they work in, we help take the pressure off by offering instant credit and consolidated invoicing for all monthly purchases from our extensive network of leading Preferred Suppliers.
Beyond that, our Members can access a wide range of exclusive products each designed to help them thrive. Whether it’s equipment finance to grow their business, insurance to protect what matters most, or an award-winning travel agency to book their next getaway and so much more, Capricorn can help.
We’ve changed and evolved over time, but we’re still all about helping our Community to thrive, and this includes our Members, Preferred Suppliers and team members.
Check out the information below to learn about some of the important milestones in our history.
1974
A group of 17 like-minded service station operators meet and resolve to register the 'Capricorn Co-operative Limited'.
1982
Capricorn reports its first dividend to approximately 200 members.
1982
Membership is opened to mechanical workshops, panel beaters and other areas of the auto aftermarket industry.
1984
The first Capricorn Convention is hosted in Bali.
1987
Expansion into the eastern states commences as Capricorn begins operations in New South Wales.
1988
Membership passes 500.
1989
Operations begin in South Australia.
1990
Operations begin in Victoria.
1991
Operations begin in Queensland, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory.
1991
Membership passes 1,000.
1974
Membership passes 3,000.
1997
Operations expand internationally to New Zealand.
2001
Membership passes 6,000.
2003
Capricorn Mutual launched to help Members protect their businesses and livelihoods.
2019
Membership passes 12,000.
2012
Capricorn Fuel Card launched to deliver more benefits to Members.
2014
Capricorn Risk Services launched to help provide more comprehensive protection to Members.
2016
Membership passes 18,500.
2018
Rising Stars Apprentice of the Year award launched to help ensure a pipeline of talent for the industry.
2019
Capricorn Rewards launched to give back more to Members.
2022
Membership passes 25,000.
2024
Capricorn celebrates its 50th anniversary.