Buslines Group

History

The John A Gilbert group was founded in 1926 as Reo Motors in 1926, being renamed in 1951. It operated various bus operations in New South Wales. In 1943, it purchased its Tamworth business. This was followed in 1946 by Berrima and Orange. Further purchases were made in Bathurst and Dubbo with all operating under the Buslines of Australia brand. The Bathurst business was sold in 1977.

In November 1988, the Lismore based business of Kirklands Omnibus Services was purchased taking the fleet to 250 vehicles. In October 1992 Sydney operator Shorelink was purchased being sold in March 1996.

In March 1996, John A Gilbert sold their remaining bus operations to Frank D'Apuzzo and Peter Simpson. In March 2000 Picton Omnibus Service was purchased.

From 2004 the Buslines brand was rolled out across all operations. In June 2006, Ritchies Bus Service, Griffith was purchased, followed by Perrett's Coach Service, Werris Creek in April 2008 and Selwood Coaches, Orange in December 2009, these latter two being integrated into the Tamworth, Orange and Dubbo operations.

In April 2012, the business of Jones Brothers, Lithgow and Bathurst was purchased, the latter having previously been part of the group until sold in 1977.

John A Gilbert also operated a bus dealership in Guildford and previously owned Holden car dealerships in Parramatta and Waitara.

On October 2015, the Forster Bus Service and Wingham Coaches businesses were purchased.

Ballina Buslines / Northern Rivers Buslines

In 1939, Clarrie and Jim Kirkland purchased two bus runs in Evans Head. Trading as Kirkland Bros, further operations would be purchased in the Northern Rivers region. In January 1970, the business of New England Motor Company which operated long distance services from Lismore to Brisbane, Tenterfield and Grafton. By this stage, the fleet stood at 45.

In November 1974, a service commenced from Ballina to Sydney. It was later extended to Brisbane. In 1986, the business was sold to Waugh & Josephson which in turn was sold to Bond Corporation in 1987. Kirkland Bros was sold to John A Gilbert in 1988. As at August 1989, the fleet comprised 111 buses and coaches.

In June 1996, the Brisbane to Sydney services were sold to Premier Motor Service who in April 2008, also purchased the Lismore to Brisbane service. In the 2000s, the Kirklands name was dropped with the business split into Ballina Buslines and Northern Rivers Buslines.

Orange Buslines

In 1947, the business was purchased from John Foley with eight buses, with Foley's Bus Service purchasing route 32 Kogarah station to Ramsgate in return.

Fleet

December 2015: Fleet consisted of 308 buses. May 2016: Fleet consisted of 345 buses.

Up until the mid-1980s the John A Gilbert fleet were painted white and black. This was replaced by a white and blue striped livery which was simplified when the Buslines Group took over.