Melbourne McDonald’s worker George Caruana, 69, celebrates 50 years on the job

A Melbourne man who has been working at McDonald’s since he was 19 is about to become the longest serving employee in Australia, racking up 50 years of service this week.

It all began in 1974 for customer service worker George Caruana, now aged 69, when he visited the newly-opened Collingwood McDonald’s with his mother.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Melbourne McDonald’s employee clocks up 50 years working for the fast food giant

Stream your local 7NEWS free on 7plus

The pair were having lunch, when he had an interaction with the store’s manager that would change his life.

“(The manager) came in and asked me ‘are you enjoying your meal?’,” Caruana told 7NEWS.

“He said, ‘would you like a job?’

“I said yes, he took me inside, gave me a uniform and told mum ‘I’m taking your son to show him around’ and the Friday afterwards I started work, and I’m still around.”

Over the decades has worked as an outlet manager and a promotions manager but now works in customer service at the Lilydale store.

However Caruana has many fond memories of his first years working at McDonald’s in Collingwood, where he was awarded “best on chicken” for the McDonald’s Australian All-Star team in 1974.

The memory that stands out the most, however, is when he served Hollywood Golden Age actress Bette Davis.

“I was just about to shut the store, and I was told ‘Bette Davis is coming, you’ve got to serve her’,” Caruana said.

“I wish to God that I took some pictures with her.

“I gave her (a) free apple pie that day.”

Despite being a diabetic, Caruana says he always enjoys a Big Mac and fries every Saturday during his lunch break.

Over the span of his career, he estimates he’s eaten 38,00 Big Macs and about 40,000 french fries.

He also still fits in the same uniform he first wore in 1974.

“When I eat a Big Mac, it just brings memory from the old days,” Caruana said.

Caruana’s love for the fast food chain does not stop when he leaves work.

The 69-year-old has a dedicated museum in his house, where he showcases various McDonald’s memorabilia items he’s collected over the years.

These include hamburger boxes (many from overseas), figurines, Happy Meal boxes and drink cups.

“They’re (the hamburger boxes) still intact, they’re still looked after, I clean them every six months to make sure they stay brand new,” Caruana said.

One of his most prized possessions is a Ronald McDonald doll, which Caruana has had for about 50 years.

At the time it sold for $10, but Caruana estimates it would be worth about $150 now.

The loyal employee said he wouldn’t sell it for the world.

“Money is nothing to me,” he said.

Everything in the curated museum holds special meaning to Caruana, and reminds him of when he started all those years ago.

“It’s all good memories about the days that I started … and I worked with such great people,” he said.

It’s unclear exactly how McDonald’s plans to celebrate Caruana’s 50th anniversary on Friday.

But one thing is clear — for Caruana, his working days at the fast food chain are far from over.

“I’ll continue as long as I can,” he said.