Observer Magazine Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, November 7, 2012 - Page 17
■ There was the end of an era for a Melbourne institution when Reservoir Bus Company was sold this week to the Dyson Group. For almost 100 years, local buses have been vital part of the daily life of the northern suburb and its surrounds. Manager Russell Ward looks back fondly at his 44½-years with Reservoir Bus Company, spanning almost half the history of public transport in the region. Russell looks back proudly at the history of service, orginally provided by a small number of owner-operators. It grew to a group that included RBC, East-West Bus Lines and Melbourne Bus Link, that has in the order of 190 vehicles, and employs more than 300 people. The sale of RBC to the Dyson Group on November 1 marks another chapter in decades of local history. Bus historian Paul Kennelly says the first services in the area, in the 1920s, were operated by the Page family, who were later to be involved with Melbourne and Brighton Bus Lines, Melbourne Motor Coach Service and Australian Pacific. They ran buses from Reservoir direct to Melbourne down High St. “In 1925, when route licensing was introduced, Route 1A was established which terminated at the Northcote tram terminus at the intersection of Plenty Rd, Miller, Dundas and High Sts, referred to as Thornbury Junction,” says Paul, who is Secretary of the Bus and Coach Society of Victoria. “It was extended to Thornbury Station in 1931, but was cut back to Thornbury Junction in 1941. “The route was multiple owneroperated and had two distinct paths. One went to Edwardes Lake via High St, returning via Spring St and Regent Station. “The other went up High St and then went up Cheddar Rd,” Paul recalls. “The Witham brothers had established route 122A (now route 555) from Reservoir to Epping via Lalor in 1948.” In the next few years, a number of other operators joined them and formed Reservoir Motors. “Despite these efforts, the business struggled and needed a significant financial injection. “Enter Pat Cooper in 1954. Pat had operated a successful milk carting business and took a 51 per cent share in a newly formed East Preston and Epping Bus Services Pty Ltd
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ON THE BUSES
● Russell Ward retires after 44½ years with Reservoir Bus Company. He remains as Managing Director of Melbourne Bus Link, and continues his involvement with East-West Bus Lines. Reservoir Bus Company was sold this week to the Dyson Group. Taylor’s interest in Route 1A which Today, the fleet is all Volvo, says END OF AN ERA FOR MELBOURNE OPERATOR meant that EP&EBS and Keith Russell Ward. Williamson and Harry Webb were Over the years, routes expanded the sole operators of the route. into growing suburban areas includEP&EBS was to have its depot at ing Keon Park, Thomastown, Lalor 922 High St, Reservoir, including a and Epping. petrol station. Webb and Williamson In 1966, Myer opened the Northare said to have had their three-bus land Shopping Centre in East depot in Tyler St, Preston. They joined Preston, and services were extended forces in 1964. to cater for shoppers. In the mid 50s, Pat Cooper had Last services out of the centre just also acquired two buses, and two char- after 12 noon Saturdays, when shops ter licences, from Jack Merlo. This then shut, were packed. Russell Ward recalls that there was the genesis of Midland Tours. Cooper’s sons, John and Peter, and was one 10-day railway strike around daughter Carmel, joined the business. this era, with buses replacing the Grandchildren have also been in- trains. It was all hands on deck, with evvolved in the firm. Paul Kennelly says that Reservoir ery possible vehicle put into service. Bus Company was formed in Octo- Fares were just a few cents. “But we almost had enough to buy ● At ‘Thornbury Junction’, a High Street bus prepares for its jour- ber 1968. The track fleet stood at 27 buses, a new bus after that,” he laughs. ney north to Reservoir. The photo is dated to the late 1940s. ● Turn to Page 18 Photo: John Masterton Collection all bar one of them Bedfords. with the existing operators of Reservoir Motors (Pat Quinn, Bill Brown, Del and Jack Witham) each receiving a quarter share of the remainder,” Paul notes. In 1956, EP&EBS bought H E
● In the 1960s, almost the entire Reservoir green-and-cream ● Buses prepare to head south along High Street, Reservoir. In 1925 licensing created Melbourne’s fleet comprised Bedford buses with bodies manufactured at the Route 1A, running from the then-outer northern suburb to the City. Prior to this, the service had been run by the Page family. Commonwealth Aircraft factory at Fishermens Bend.