Fuel will be in short supply for several weeks in the small southern township of Clinton as old underground petrol tanks are replaced with newer and safer models.
The BP name, which has become synonymous with the Holden family for nearly 50 years, will also disappear as part of the upgrade.
The present owner-operator, Desley Grant, whose late father, Dennis, ran the business for several decades before his death two years ago, hoped the disruption to customers would be minimal, but acknowledged the absence of fuel supplies in the rural town would inconvenience some people.
The nearest available fuel supply is either at Gore, 40km south, or Balclutha, 30km to the north.
All the fuel tanks, most of which date back to 1970, were being removed by BP because of environmental concerns, something that had been done at many service stations around the country.
Mrs Grant said the old tanks were out of the ground but ground tests, to determine if there had been any contamination, were still days away.
"Until we have got the results back and signed off by BP, we can't go ahead and get the new tanks here," she said.
Once approved, the new tanks would take some time to be fitted and the timeline was very dependent on weather, especially when it came to concreting the forecourt area in cold conditions.
Safety fencing has been put up around the site while the owners wait for approval to get the new tanks in the ground.
