Javid Ahmadi outside the 7-Eleven Sutherland outlet on Wednesday morning. Picture by Murray Trembath

The petrol pumps at 7-Eleven Sutherland were taped off, with security guards posted, after a franchise agreement ended at 6am today.

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Javid Ahmadi, who has operated the 24-hour outlet for the last 10 years and had appealed for public support to help him to stay on, watched from outside after being asked to leave.

"I never expected this," he said. "My dream is shattered."

The petrol station reopened later in the morning under new management.

The 7-Eleven outlet at Sutherland on Wednesday morning. Picture by Murray Trembath

Mr Ahmadi, who came to Australia from Iran 17 years ago, said he bought the franchise for just over $1 million and ran it with a team of six, including his wife and other family members.

He was told in September 2025 7-Eleven Australia was not extending his franchise, and was subsequently advised he must leave by 6am on June 17, 2026.

Mr Ahmadi put up a poster in the last week, stating, "Now, 7-Eleven wants to take this store back for free and run it as a corporate store without compensating us".

A statement by 7-Eleven Australia said, "the term of their franchise agreement, as extended, expires on 17 June 2026 and the licence granted to them to operate the store ceases on that date."

"7-Eleven Australia works closely with its franchise network and takes its responsibilities seriously," the company said.

"7-Eleven Australia approaches all individual franchisee matters in a fair and considered way, in line with our contractual obligations and applicable legal and regulatory requirements."

The company said "individual franchisee matters differ case by case" and it was not able to provide further comment on matters publicly.

Mr Ahmadi said, legally, 7-Eleven was entitled to take back the store.

"But, it used to be common practice that if they wanted to convert a franchise business to corporate they had to compensate the franchisee," he said.

Mr Ahmadi said this policy appeared to have changed when the Australian 7-Eleven company was sold to the Japanese-based international 7-Eleven business in late 2023.

Mr Ahmadi said he was "promised the world" when he bought the franchise.

"Back then, there was a super positive attitude that encouraged us to join the franchise system," he said. "We were told if we worked hard we would get the rewards.

"There have been tough days, particularly during COVID, but now the business is going great they want to take it over."

Mr Ahmadi said the same thing was happening at other 7-Eleven outlets in NSW and other states.