Woolwich Wharf in Sydney with STA buses (3384 & 3531) during a tour in 2007. Ian Lynas
Woolwich Wharf, Sydney in 1972 during an earlier enthusiasts tour in bad weather. The bus facing is a REO with Syd Wood bodywork belonging to the Hunters Hill Bus Co. The bus facing away is a Leyland Royal Tiger Cub. Ian Lynas
Brisbane have never been big Mercedes operators but two batches of 20 OC0500LE models entered service in 2004. Featured is 622 with Volgren bodywork. Ian Lynas
Brisbane Transport (1228)an MAN 18.310 with Brisbane Transport Workshop/Volgren body on the last route 385 journey to use Albert St 23.20 28-5-2006. Albert St was closed half-an-hour later and became a pedestrian mall. On 19 May 2008 an underground busway will pass beneath the road joining Brisbane\’s northern and southern busways. Ian Lynas
risbane City Council had 340 Leyland Panthers, the largest group in the world. The photo shows 569 with Athol Hedges bodywork in the southern suburbs in 1972. Ian Lynas
Current deliveries to Brisbane Transport are M.A.N. 18.310\’s with bodies designed by Volgren but built in the Brisbane Transport Workshops. Ian Lynas
Whilst Australian-built bodies are common in New Zealand, the opposite unusual. One exception being this Designline-bodied MAN photographed in the fleet of Sugar Valley Coaches of Barnsley near Newcastle, New South Wales. Ian Lynas
Brisbane Transport purchased 217 Scania\’s with Volgren or Brisbane Transport Workshops bodies to Volgren design. 829 with BTW-Volgren body is shown making what will become a rare turn from 19 May 2008 when the Inner City Busway opens connecting north and south busways through the City Centre. Ian Lynas
National Bus Company 599 MAN 16.240 with Designline body imported from New Zealand Hayden Ramsdale
The White Higer Bus is an Import from China seen here at Melbourne’s Conference Hayden Ramsdale
The first Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 has been released at the BusVic Conference in Melbourne in July 2008. it was bodied by North Coast Bus & Coach, Caloundra, Qld. Hayden Ramsdale
In the early 1970s many of Manchesters troubled Leyland Panthers went to Australia and one of the Met-Cam bodied examples is shown working for Forest Coach Lines in the Sydney northern suburb of Belrose. Ian Lynas
The bus fleet in the Australian Capital, Canberra is operated by A.C.T.I.O.N., one of whose M.A.N. SL200\’s is seen in this photograph from 1980. Ian Lynas
Leyland Worldmasters were used on long-distance services in Australia such as this one operating for Ansett Pioneer and shown in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales in 1972. Bodywork was by Ansair. Ian Lynas
Brisbane introduced its new livery with the delivery of CNG powered Scania L94UB with bodies built in the Council Workshops at Toowong. This one is shown at Browns Plains, just outside the Brisbane City boundary. Ian Lynas
Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) recently displayed their Enviro 500 3-axle double-deck bus on a road show through Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. The spec displayed was that of a KMB of HK. ADL is following-up on the interest with hopes of re-introducing the double-deck to meet public transport demand. Michael Musgrave
Surfside Bus Lines 742 Surfside Bus Lines of the gold Coast Bustech VST bodied Volvo B12BLE Hayden Ramsdale
Surfside Bus Lines 774 is a Bustech VST bodied Mercedes Benz 0500LE in Translink livery, the new livery for buses operated under contract to Translink in south East Queensland Hayden Ramsdale
A large number of AEC Regal IVs came to Australia and New Zealand, Sydney taking the largest batch. DGT 3446 with Clyde bodywork is shown in Sydney City Centre in 1972. Ian Lynas
Australian country Bedford Motor Body Specialists of Brisbane built nearly 500 bodies between 1964 and 1998. Popular with country operators, the photo, taken in 1991, shows MO507, a Bedford BLP2 of 1975 operating for Higgins of Murwillumbah in northern New South Wales. Ian Lynas
Called the race that stops a Nation, the Melbourne Cup brings coaches from far and wide and 1976 was no exception with this Bedford VAM 70 with Freighter Moonraker coachwork, Number 10 in the fleet of Barts of Littlehampton in South Australia. Ian Lynas
This AEC Regent V with Park Royal bodywork was photographed on the Gold Coast of Queensland in 1993 still in East Kent livery and with UK registration AFN763B Ian Lynas
Besides AEC Regents, Sydney also had Leyland Titan\’s of OPD1 and OPD2 models and 2496 with Clyde bodywork is shown leaving Circular Quay in 1971. Ian Lynas
The Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board operated a large fleet of AEC Regal IIIs. 549 carries a body by Martin and King and was built in 1953. Ian Lynas
Atkinsons were well-regarded in Australia with two fleets in particular taking the majority of the 23 known to have operated. The most famous of these operators was H.T. Saint & Son of Peakhurst in Sydney\’s southern suburbs. m/o.986 carries a Commonwealth Engineering body from 1957. Ian Lynas
Chinese-built coaches and low-floor buses have become readily-available in Australia. The photo shows 4767MO in the recently-introduced series in New South Wales on a bus built by WUXI ANYUAN through dealer BCI. Shown operating in Wollongong, south of Sydney, for Premier Illawarra in January 2009. Ian Lynas
The Daimler Roadliner was held in as little regard as it was in UK. Adelaide had a batch of 30 with Freighter bodywork and 221 is shown in 1975 operating for the State Transport Authority. Ian Lynas
MTT Adelaide took delivery of 292 AEC Swifts with 691 engines and Freighter bodywork. No. 529 is shown in the CBD in 1975. Ian Lynas
Whilst Adelaide had problems with Daimler Roadliners and less-seriously with AEC Swifts, the operator put back into traffic 18-year old Leyland Royal Tiger Worldmasters which were 8ft 6in wide. 935 shows off the 3-door Lawton bodywork in 1975. Ian Lynas
STA Sydney have recently introduced a two-way CBD loop service with buses painted in white and green as shown on Volvo B12B-Custom Coaches 1517 shown at Circular Quay on New Years\’ Day 2009. Ian Lynas
A recent innovation in Sydney is the introduction of Metrobus route 10 from Kingsford to Leichhardt via the CBD using route branded buses some of which are for demonstration of seating and door layouts. 1701 is a Volvo B12B artic with Custom Coaches bodywork and roof adornments. It is shown on 20 January 2009 at Leichhardt Town Hall after the service was cut back to this spot from Market Town due to local resident complaints about the number of buses. Route 10 is a PrePay service. Ian Lynas
STA Sydney are also using this 3-axle Scania, 2108 fitted with Volgren bodywork on Metrobus route 10. The photo was taken at Leichhardt Town Hall in January 2009. Ian Lynas
One of the few remaining colourful operators in Sydney is Telford Tours. Far from their normal territory is 124 a MAN SL202 with Ansair bodywork, formerly Metbus Melbourne 340 and shown on rail replacement work in January 2009 at Granville in Sydney\’s western suburbs. Ian Lynas
The Tempe Bus & Truck Museum in Sydney have restored Albion Venturer 80 number 1187 of 1935 to its pre-war Sydney DRT&T livery of red and cream. It is shown undergoing some remedial work to its Waddington body at the museum in January 2009. Ian Lynas
IBC stands for Ian and Bruce Campbell who built about 100 chassis at a factory in Brisbane (although the company was based in Sydney). Brisbane City Council had two as trambuses for the City Sights Tour both being sold in 2001 to Pearce Katoomba Explorer in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. Former BCC 924 is shown in January 2009 as MO.3176. Ian Lynas
The City of Parramatta, west of Sydney, have recently commenced a free circular service which had already carried over 100,000 passengers in a couple of months. Operated by VEOLIA Transport, 450 is a Volvo B7R with Custom Coaches bodywork photographed in January 2009 Ian Lynas
Municipal operators were and still are quite rare in Australia. Whyalla City Council in South Australia took over the local private operator after he had had trouble in 1976 and operted the fleet until 2003 when it was sold to another private concern. The Council\’s fleet was always immaculate as shown by 42 a Volvo B10M with Pressed Metal Adealide body shown at Whyalla Playford in 1983. Ian Lynas
This is the first Hybrid Bus to enter service in Australia into fleet service, being a BCI JXK6930 model and will operate school servcies in Melbourne\’s Eastern Suburbs. Hayden Ramsdale
A hop on hop off double decker bus of unknown make waits (in vain) for passengers in Melbourne, Australia. Thanks to the steep Aus $30 fare, and the free City Circle tram (with commentary) which does the same circuit, this bus is woefully short of ridership. (July 2003). s. shankar
Brisbane City Council purchased 98 Volvo B59s with domino-hedges bodywork in 1976-77. They ran in service until 2002. Ian Lynas
Sydney are receiving a large batch of Mercedes-Benz O500LE, 1819 being shown in Central Sydney in January 2009 Ian Lynas
Motor Coach Australia built almost 300 MCA\’s generally with the company\’s own coachwork. This Brisbane Bus Lines example with Caterpillar 3208 rear-mounted engine is now almost 20 year old and was photographed at the Cultural Centre in Brisbane. Ian Lynas
A wedding in South-East Queensland was an opportunity to sample a new BCI imported Wuxi Anyuan used to transport guests between the reception and nearby wineries and return and proved to be an effective booze bus, avoiding fairly long drives before and after the wedding reception. Ian Lynas
Bedfords are getting thin on the ground in Australia but this YMT with Custom Coaches bodywork was looking immaculate when enthusiasts visited the CavBus operation south of Brisane in early 2009. Ian Lynas
One of North Queensland\’s longest-serving cruise operators is Quicksilver-Low Isles Cruises, conveying hundreds of tourists from Port Douglas to the Barrier Reef. To get the tourists to Port Douglas, the company has used a fleet of coaches based in Cairns. Most have been long-lived. A recent addition is number 7, an MAN with Coach Design coachwork shown leaving the Cairns to Mossman highway and entering Port Douglas in April 2009. Ian Lynas
Brisbane Transport have acquired 8 Scania K310UB6x2 with Volgren bodies and steerable rear axles to supplement artics. Initially confined to route 142 which operates a seated-only service along freeways and busways between Greenbank, in the neighbouring Logan City and Brisbane CBD. 1701, the first is shown leaving Greenbank on its first ever revenue journey on 11 May 2009. Ian Lynas
AdelaideMetro Scania L94UB. Port Adelaide/Hendon depot Transit2203
AdelaideMetro Mercedes Benz O305G. St Agnes depot Transit2203
State Transit Sydney Scania L113CRB/Ansair. One of two in the fleet Transit2203
The is the first Hybrid for Ventura and is prodiced by Designline, seen here at the Victorian Busvic bus expo on June 28 2009 Mick Kane from Hayden Ramsdale\s collection
BCI have produced an electric bus version of their Proma and Crown Coaches in Melbourne have the first one Hayden Ramsdale
A very long-lived bus in northern New South Wales was this AEC Reliance with bodywork by local Brisbane builder Watt Brothers. Built in 1964 and still in service in 1992 in the town of Woodenbong. Ian Lynas
Brisbane Transport 1801, the 1st of 85 Volvo B7RLEs with Volgren or Volgren-BTW bodies shown at Carina depot on 26th August 2009. Ian Lynas
STA Sydney have been receiving Volvo B12BLEs with Custom Coaches bodies and 4927 is shown in January 2009 in the suburb of Leichhardt. Ian Lynas
Former ACTION Canberra 675, a Renault PR100 with Ansair bodywork photographed with Premier Illawarra in the city of Wollongong, south of Sydney in January 2009. Ian Lynas
The latest Australian built chassis-body combination is the Bustech MDi built on the Gold Coast of Queensland. Kynoch Coaches 102 is shown in July 2009 after Kynoch sold out to Bus Queensland. Ian Lynas
A Volvo B7R with Alan B Denning body belonging to Cross Country Tours of Brisbane and photographed west of the Queensland country town of Stanthorpe in March 2009. Ian Lynas
Public Transport Commission Sydney 3479 a Leyland Royal Tiger Worldmaster photographed leaving the Cremorne ferry landing in 1973. Ian Lynas
Leyland Tigers were popular in Australia and the two shown are operated by Stonestreets of Toowoomba in Queensland where they are finishing their days on school runs. Ian Lynas
Two Leyland-Verheul LVB668 with Leyland Worldmaster parts came to Australia in 1986 and were bodied by Nambucca River Engineering. MO0254 is shown leaving Mullumbimby High School on a midday charter in 2002. Ian Lynas
Only minutes before it was destroyed in a land clearance this Commer Avenger I with Lawton deck-and-a-half body lay in the suburbs of Bundaberg Queensland for over 30 years and was only discovered on the day of its demolition. Ian Lynas
Brisbane Airport shuttle bus . Carbridge operate this Volvo B7R with Bustech body. No 41 was operating staff car-park to terminal service in November 2009. Ian Lynas
m/o302 is a classic early (1954) Leyland Tiger Cub owned by Wilcox of Auburn in Sydneys Western Suburbs. It carries a body by Motor Body Assemblers. Photographed in 1971. Ian Lynas
Warrington Corporation Leyland Titan PD2-Leyland was a surprise visitor to a shopping mall at Charlestown, south of Newcastle, New South Wales in 1970. Ian Lynas
Brisbane City Council\’s new CityGlider service launched on 10 April 2010 with service commencing at 10am on 11 April. The service operates from West End Ferry to Teneriffe Ferry with a high frequency and 24-hour service on Friday and Saturday. Bus 1043 is shown completing the first official journey. One of the new bus blade signs can be seen at the right. Ian Lynas
The Tempe Transport Museum in Southern Sydney is about to close for relocation to the former Leichhardt tram depot. The photo shows former Department of Government Transport 3131, a Leyland Royal Tiger Worldmaster with Cycle Components body and former Department of Road Transport and Tramways 492 a rare Dennis Lancet with Waddington bodywork. Ian Lynas
Bayside Bus Service operated in Brisbanes Eastern suburbs the fleet including 57 a 1963 AEC Reliance 470 with Watt Brothers bodywork. Ian Lynas
Cornwell of Mooball operated MO7998 a lightweight Ford Cargo Van chassis bodied as a bus by Nambucca River Engineering. It is shown on a school run through cane fields south of Mooball in 1990. Ian Lynas
Whilst Brisbane City Council had the largest batch of Leyland Panthers, two of Brisbane suburban private operators also had Panthers. Bayside Bus Service 69, built in 1969 with an Athol Hedges body is shown in Stanley Street South Brisbane in 1972. Ian Lynas
Sunday workings of Country bus services in Australia have declined over the last 40 years but the new millenium saw restoration of many routes. Hinterland Connect operates in the Glasshouse Mountains area of South-East Queensland and this Hino RB8 with UBC-Chiron body is seen between Maleny and Montville in June 2011. Ian Lynas
Brisbane have purchased 119 3-axle Volvo B12\’s and what nice buses they are. 5102 is shown on the South Busway at Greenslopes in October 2011. Ian Lynas
The only Optare to operate in Australia is this Optare Metrorider with locally constructed Alan B. Denning bodywork. It carries body identification both for this body builder and for Optare. It was new to King Bros Bus Service (whose livery it retains) operating their Maclean – Illuka service. It then passed to JS & A Sodhi, Bangalow on a school run between Bangalow and Lismore, and has since transferred to Sweeney Todd Bus Service with the business. Sweeney Todd Bus Service
Sid Fogg & Son Pty Ltd of Newcastle in New South Wales operate one of four 8×2 Scanias in Australia. It is a Scania K124EB chassis, while the other three in the country are K113TR chassis. It was photographed under the Sydney Harbour Bridge by Ben Ogle. Sid Fogg & Son Pty Ltd
Hunter Valley Buses Pty Ltd, a member of the CDC Group, have undergone a major fleet upgrade in the 2008-2012 period resulting in the withdrawal of a large number of interesting, older vehicles. This photograph depicts a number of withdrawn vehicles awaiting scrapping at their Morisset depot. From left to right are: a Denning Denair, MAN 16.280, 2x Isuzu ECR570s, an early MAN 16.240, a Leyland Super Viking, an MCA, another Leyland Tiger & an Austral Interbus. Photo by Ben Ogle. Hunter Valley Buses Pty Ltd
National bus Mercedes-Benz Picture by: melbourne
Paradise Springs Enterprises near the Queensland city of Bundaberg operate this luxury school bus based on a Scania chassis with a body by Irizar. It is shown at their remote depot on 10 June 2012. Ian Lynas
Quite a number of Optare Solo’s have come to Australia such as Skybus-Melbourne No. 40 shown here on 16 January 2017 in Exhibition Street. Ian Lynas
Country Queensland school bus operator Bill Blackburn operates at Walla Walla, a long way from anywhere near the coast of Central Queensland. This Mercedes-Benz 1517 carried a body by the now-defunct Nambucca River Engineering. Ian Lynas
Skybus in Melbourne operate a big group of Bustech double-deckers and 111 dating from 2016 is shown approaching the departure point on 16 January 2017. Ian Lynas
Dysons of Bundoora operate the VLine connecting service from Bairnsdale in Victoria to Batemans Bay in New South Wales. Dyson’s 910 a Scania K440EB with Brisbane-built Coach Concepts body is shown on 11 October 2016 heading into the town of Eden, New South Wales and heading to Bairnsdale where connection is made with a train service to Melbourne. Ian Lynas
Bega Valley Coaches of Bega, New South Wales operate this 2016 model Bustech SDi, 1103.MO photographed at Bega depot on 8 October 2016. Ian Lynas
Sydney purchased over 700 double-deckers after the Second World War and 1932 is a 1947 AEC Regent III with Commonwealth Engineering bodywork photographed in 1971 climbing away from Watsons Bay on route 324 with Sydney Harbour Bridge in the right background. Ian Lynas
Brisbane Transport received 30 articulated MAN NG263/313 with Custom Coaches bodywork with many working Busway services. 1616 is shown descending the half-spiral from Roma St to the Inner Northern Busway in December 2008. Ian Lynas
Sydney\’s Metrobus route 10 is also being worked by new Mercedes O500LE\’s with Custom Coaches EvoII bodywork such as 1825 shown at Central Railway in January 2009. Ian Lynas
Sydney\’s love affair with Mercedes-Benz started with the 0305 model of which over 1500 were supplied followed by the 0405 and now the 0500. Most of the 0305\’s are now withdrawn and in early days 2476 with Pressed Metal Corporation body is shown at North Sydney Station in 1980. Ian Lynas
A one-time member of the STA Sydney fleet is this MAN 11.220 with Ansair bodywork now operating for Bus Queensland in the City of Toowoomba, west of Brisbane. Ian Lynas
A Scania with Custom Coaches bodywork on the Adelaide O Bahn on 19 March 2012. Charles Elson
Department of Government Transport in Sydney had a large fleet of AEC Regent IIIs which operated into the mid-1970s. 1997 is shown in 1972 on Anzac Parade Kingsford. Commonwealth Engineering built the bodywork. Ian Lynas
Thompson’s Bus Service, Strathpine just north of Brisbane, Queensland have purchased a number of new double-decker coaches, such as 22 built by Denning Manufacturing (chassis and body) and photographed on 4 June 2011. Ian Lynas
Canberra’s Dennis Dart fleet are on their last legs, regularly found on the Free City Loop service like 151 on 5 October 2016. Ian Lynas
Rockhampton City Council operated trams and buses between 1909 and 1995. Amongst their long-lived buses were 7 out of 8 Leyland Tiger OPS3\’s with Commonwealth Engineering bodywork. No 18 is shown at Lakes Creek in 1971. Ian Lynas
St Ives Bus Service in Sydneys northern suburbs operated a number of Chevrolet normal-control buses in service in 1971. The one in the photo was on a tour by enthusiasts. Ian Lynas