Hawkesbury Valley Buses

Hawkesbury Valley Buses was an Australian bus company in Western Sydney.

Hawkesbury Valley Buses
ParentJoe & Tony Calabro
Commenced operationJune 1958
Ceased operation24 April 2017
HeadquartersOakville
Service areaCity of Hawkesbury
Service typeBus charter operator
AllianceBusabout Sydney
Depots1
Fleet11 (December 2014)
Websitewww.busabout.com.au

History

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Hawkesbury Valley was formed in June 1958 when Bob Kirkpatrick purchased the Maraylya to Windsor and Riverstone services from NK Lakeman-Fidler.[1] In 1977 the depot moved from George Street, South Windsor to Old Stock Route Road, Oakville.[2] In February 1984 the Windsor to Wisemans Ferry service was purchased from R Clarkson.

In November 1990, Hawkesbury Valley was sold to Joe and Tony Calabro.[3][4] The Calabro family had sold their 70 vehicle Bonnyrigg operation to Westbus in June 1989[5] and subsequently purchased Surfside Buslines in October 1989.[6][7]

The Calabros expanded their Sydney presence purchasing Neville's Bus Service in 1994 and Liverpool Transport Co in 1997. During 1994/95 Hawkesbury Valley operated a service between the international and domestic terminals at Sydney Airport for Qantas.[8]

From 2005 Hawkesbury Valley's services formed part of Sydney Bus Region 1, held in partnership with Busways and Westbus. On 6 October 2013, Busways commenced operating Region 1 services in its own right. This resulted in it taking over the services operated by Hawkesbury Valley.[9][10] It continued to trade as a charter operator until closing on 24 April 2017.[11][12] As at December 2021, the Oakville depot was occupied by Telfords Bus & Coach.

Fleet

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As at December 2014, the fleet consisted of 11 buses.[13] Until 1990 Hawkesbury Valley operated two Austral Tourmaster coaches. Many of Hawkesbury Valley's buses have come from or gone to other Calabro group companies. The fleet livery was blue and gold.

References

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  1. ^ New Bus Routes, Alterations, Transfers Truck & Bus Transportation August 1968 page 69
  2. ^ Depot for Expanded Fleet Truck & Bus Transportation January 1978 pages 40-42
  3. ^ Calabros Bus Hawkesbury Australasian Bus & Coach November 1990 page 11
  4. ^ Ownership changes Fleetline issue 192 July 1991 page 118
  5. ^ Calabro's Sold Fleetline issue 172 November 1989 page 176
  6. ^ Stateliner takes over Greyhound Australian Bus Panorama issue 5/5 March 1990 page 23
  7. ^ Surfside Bus Lines Australian Bus Panorama issue 6/6 February 1991 page 45
  8. ^ Hawkesbury Valley Fleetline issue 237 July 1995 page 135
  9. ^ Cut costs or bus contracts will go to private sector, minister tells drivers Sydney Morning Herald 7 November 2012
  10. ^ Busways win a 300 bus contract in Western Sydney Busways 7 November 2012
  11. ^ Home Hawkesbury Valley Buses May 2017
  12. ^ Hawkesbury Valley Buses ceases operation Australian Bus issue 82 July 2017 page 6
  13. ^ Busabout Oakville Australian Bus Fleet Lists
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