THE HISTORY OF U. S. MOTORS
by Iain Drummond
THE DANDENONG RANGES, EAST OF MELBOURNE HAVE BEEN A DESTINATION FOR THE TOURIST AND HOLIDAYMAKER SINCE THE LATER HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY. THE PEOPLE CAME TO MARVEL AT THE FERN GULLIES AND NATIVE FORESTS. BOARDING HOUSES AND HOTELS SPRANG UP TO CATER FOR THESE PEOPLE AND, NATURALLY, THE TRANSPORT SERVICES FOLLOWED. THE STEAM RAILWAY REACHED OAKLEIGH FIRST IN 1877 ON THE WAY TO DANDENONG AND THE LINE TO RINGWOOD AND LILYDALE WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1882. A BRANCH LINE FROM RINGWOOD TO BAYSWATER AND UPPER FERNTREE GULLY WAS BUILT IN 1889 AND BOTH THESE STATIONS OPENED ON THE 4TH DECEMBER OF THAT YEAR. A NARROW GAUGE STEAM RAILWAY WAS OPENED FROM UPPER FERNTREE GULLY TO GEMBROOK IN 1900.
AROUND 1875 PEOPLE CHARTERED COACHES FROM COBB AND COMPANY AND OTHER LIVERY STABLE OWNERS IN MELBOURNE TO TRAVEL TO THE FERN GULLIES IN WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS FERNTREE GULLY. THESE COACHES TRAVELLED VIA DANDENONG ROAD VIA OAKLEIGH WHERE THEY BRANCHED OFF ON TO SCORESBY ROAD. LATER IN THE 19TH CENTURY WHEN THE TRAIN LINE REACHED OAKLEIGH, A MR WILKINSON RAN COACHES ON A REGULAR BASIS BETWEEN OAKLEIGH AND FERNTREE GULLY AND A MR BEVAN CONTINUED THE SERVICE. THE RAILWAY REACHED UPPER FERNTREE GULLY IN 1898 AND THE MAJORITY OF MELBOURNE RESIDENTS WHO TRAVELLED TO THE AREA USED THE TRAIN INSTEAD OF THE LONGER COACH JOURNEY.
EXCURSIONS TO THE DANDENONG STATE FOREST WERE POPULAR FROM THE THEN RAILHEAD AT RINGWOOD. THESE COACHES WENT BY THE BASIN AND UP THE STEEP WINDING MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY TO SASSAFRAS. SOON A MR J. J. MILLAR STARTED A PRIVATE COACH SERVICE BETWEEN FOREST ROAD, THE BASIN AND BAYSWATER STATION TO ATTRACT TOURISTS TO THE AREA. THE SASSAFRAS STOREKEEPER, MR ARTHUR GOODE ESTABLISHED THE FIRST COACH SERVICE BETWEEN SASSAFRAS AND BAYSWATER VIA MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY IN THE MID 1890S. MR W. E. CLARKE OF FERNY CREEK LATER BOUGHT THIS. MRS M. CRONIN, WHO WAS THE PROPRIETOR OF THE BAYSWATER WINE HALL ON THE CORNER OF MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY AND SCORESBY ROAD, BAYSWATER, STARTED A COACH SERVICE BETWEEN BAYSWATER STATION AND OLINDA VIA MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY AND THE BASIN - OLINDA ROAD, ABOUT 1889. PASSENGERS STAYED OVERNIGHT AT THE WINE HALL. THE SERVICE WAS RUN BY MRS CRONIN’S BROTHER, PATRICK RAFFERTY, UNTIL 1902 WHEN HARRY DODD OF OLINDA TOOK ON THE SERVICE WHEN HE MARRIED MRS CRONIN. DODD WAS AN EXPERIENCED COACHMAN AND HAD 36 HORSES IN THE STABLE IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. IT IS SAID HE CARRIED THREE TYPES OF PASSENGER, 1ST CLASS RODE ALL THE WAY, 2ND CLASS RODE AS FAR AS McCLARE’S HILL AND WALKED UP THE STEEP HILL WHILE 3RD CLASS PASSENGERS GOT OUT AT McCLARE’S HILL AND PUSHED.
JAMES HUNT, THE SON OF THE MACCLESFIELD POSTMASTER, RAN A REGULAR COACH SERVICE BETWEEN MACCLESFIELD AND NARRE WARREN DURING THE 1890S AND THIS WAS POPULAR WITH RESIDENTS OF THE EMERALD DISTRICT UNTIL THE NARROW GAUGE RAIL LINE FROM UPPER FERNTREE GULLY AND GEMBROOK WAS OPENED IN 1900. R. S. (BERT) NATION ESTABLISHED A COACH SERVICE FROM BELGRAVE STATION TO THE MONBULK AREA IN 1903. BOWDEN AND WILSON OF KALLISTA WERE RUNNING WAGONETTE SERVICES TO MONBULK BEFORE THE FIRST WORLD WAR. JAMES WINTERS OF UPPER FERNTREE GULLY WAS RUNNING A WAGONETTE SERVICE FROM THERE TO SASSAFRAS AROUND THE SAME TIME.
THE FIRST MOTOR SERVICE BEGAN IN 1913 WHEN HARRY. TUTT AND LES. STORRIE OF SASSAFRAS BEGAN A RUN FROM UPPER FERNTREE GULLY STATION TO SASSAFRAS AND OLINDA. W. E. CLARKE IMMEDIATELY COMPLAINED TO THE SHIRE COUNCIL ABOUT THE “BRIGHT LIGHTS AND NOISE FROM THE MOTOR BUS PLYING FOR HIRE IN THE MOUNTAINS”. THIS WAS TO BE THE START OF A FIERCE BATTLE FOR CUSTOM ON THIS SERVICE AND SHORTLY AFTERWARDS CLARKE BOUGHT HIS FIRST MOTOR BUS AND GRADUALLY PENSIONED OFF HIS HORSES. IN 1916 MATT. TANKARD OF BELGRAVE BEGAN THE FIRST MOTOR SERVICE BETWEEN UPPER FERNTREE GULLY STATION AND BELGRAVE.
THE VICTORIAN RAILWAY TIMETABLE OF 1917 RECORDS SIX DAILY DEPARTURES TO AND FROM SASSAFRAS AND OLINDA BY MOTOR COACH FROM UPPER FERNTREE GULLY STATION THAT SUMMER AND FIVE TRIPS FROM OLINDA AND SASSAFRAS TO BAYSWATER BY COACH EVERY SATURDAY. FARES ON BOTH SERVICES WERE 2/6d SINGLE AND 4/6d RETURN. THERE WAS ALSO A SERVICE FROM SOUTH SASSAFRAS TO BELGRAVE AT THE WEEKENDS. COACHES MET EVERY TRAIN AT BELGRAVE TO TAKE PASSENGERS TO KALLISTA, THE PATCH AND MONBULK WHILE PASSENGERS FOR SILVAN WERE PICKED UP AT MOUNT EVELYN STATION. THERE WAS ALSO A REGULAR COACH SERVICE FROM MOUNT DANDENONG TO CROYDON. AT THIS TIME THERE WERE 6 DAILY TRAINS TO THE CITY AND 7 FROM THE CITY.
AFTER THE FIRST WORLD WAR BROTHERS R. AND S. SMITH ALONG WITH THEIR MECHANIC R. GEYLE CAME ON TO THE UPPER FERNTREE GULLY TO BELGRAVE SERVICE USING SEVERAL OLD CARS. THE EARLY MOTOR CARS OF THIS ERA WERE PRONE TO BREAKDOWNS AND THE SERVICES WERE OPERATED SOMEWHAT ERRATICALLY. SERVICE ON THIS ROUTE IMPROVED IN 1919 WHEN THREE NEWCOMERS ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, BILL CARTER, W. M. HARRIS, WILLIAM HITCHCOCK AND HAROLD DAVIES. OTHER COMPETITORS STARTED ON THE ROUTE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. THEY WERE E. AFFLECK, H. BATES, A SALVADO AND B. OSBORNE. THE LATTER OPERATED “LUXURIOUS” STUDEBAKER CARS WHICH CAPTURED CUSTOM FROM HIS COMPETITORS. MOST OF THE MEN WERE RETURNED SOLDIERS WHO INVESTED THEIR SAVINGS IN ONE SECOND-HAND CAR.
TUTT AND STORRIE BEGAN OPERATING A THROUGH SERVICE FROM OLINDA AND SASSAFRAS TO MELBOURNE IN 1918. THEY WERE SOON ENGAGED IN COMPETITION BY THE WOOLRICH BROTHERS AND ARTHUR GREEN, BOTH OF WHOM RAN SERVICES FROM THE RAILHEAD AT UPPER FERNTREE GULLY TO SASSAFRAS AND OLINDA. ARTHUR GREEN ALSO RAN A SCENIC CAR BUSINESS FOR SOME YEARS FROM AROUND 1923 AND USED MAINLY BUICK CARS. HIS GARAGE WAS BUILT ON THE SITE, WHICH LATER BECAME THE THISTLE RESTAURANT. G. V. CLARKE, THE SON OF W. E. CLARKE, AND STEWART DEVINE OF OLINDA SOON BEGAN OPERATING FROM OLINDA TO MELBOURNE WHILE MR JEEVES, WHO HAD A DEPOT NORTH OF KALORAMA GENERAL STORE, WAS OPERATING FROM MOUNT DANDENONG TO CROYDON AND MELBOURNE. SAM PATTERSON CAME TO AUSTRALIA FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM IN 1924 AND SOON FOUND EMPLOYMENT AS A MECHANIC WITH CLARKE AND DEVINE WHO HAD A GARAGE NORTH OF THE HILTON ROAD CORNER..
IN 1921 MESSRS. CARTER, GEYLE, HITCHCOCK AND DAVIES FORMED THE BELGRAVE UNITED MOTOR SERVICE. THE COMPANY’S INITIALS PROVED TO BE SOMEWHAT INDELICATE AND THE COMPANY NAME WAS SOON CHANGED TO U. S. MOTORS. THIS COMPANY BEGAN A THROUGH SERVICE FROM BELGRAVE TO MELBOURNE. IN 1927 JACK KOLLOSCHE BEGAN OPERATING FROM UPPER FERNTREE GULLY TO BELGRAVE USING A REO REGISTERED 83.818 FITTED WITH A 35 SEAT BODY BUT HE COULD NOT MAKE A LIVING FROM IT. THE BUS LATER PASSED TO U. S. MOTORS.
AMALGAMATED MOTORS WAS ANOTHER COMPANY SET UP BY CARTER, HITCHCOCK, DAVIES AND GEYLE IN 1924 TO OPERATE A SERVICE FROM BELGRAVE TO UPPER FERNTREE GULLY. OSBORNE LATER JOINED THEM. THE BELGRAVE DEPOT WAS BURNED OUT IN 1926 AND IN 1927 W. F. CARTER RESIGNED FROM THE COMPANY. THE COMPANY CEASED TRADING ABOUT 1929. JACK KOLLOSCHE WAS EMPLOYED AS A DRIVER BY THIS COMPANY AFTER HIS FAILED ATTEMPT TO RUN HIS OWN SERVICE. HE THEN JOINED THE VICTORIAN RAILWAYS TO BE THE DRIVER ON A NEW ROAD SERVICE FROM GEELONG TO QUEENSCLIFF IN 1927.
JACK KOLLOSCHE AND A FELLOW VICTORIAN RAILWAYS EMPLOYEE, LEO O’DONOHUE BOUGHT U. S. MOTORS AROUND 1928 TO OPERATE THE THROUGH BELGRAVE TO MELBOURNE SERVICE. O’DONOHUE LATER SOLD HIS SHARES IN THE BUSINESS TO TED AFFLECK BUT REMAINED WITH THE COMPANY AS A DRIVER.
OTHER OPERATORS IN THE DISTRICT IN THE 1920S WERE DAVID JONES WHO OPERATED A SERVICE FROM MONBULK TO UPPER FERNTREE GULLY AND ANGUS SHAW. J. GLAYSHER RAN THE FIRST MONBULK TO MELBOURNE SERVICE BEFORE HE SOLD IT TO J. GREEN SNR. JACK DELANEY OPERATED A KALLISTA TO MELBOURNE SERVICE. WILLIAM (BILL) H. PARKIN OF LOCKWOOD AND LEO CASEY BOTH OPERATED LOCAL SERVICES OUT OF BELGRAVE STATION. ON THE 12TH OCTOBER 1925 THE ELECTRIC TRAIN SERVICE WAS EXTENDED TO UPPER FERNTREE GULLY.
THE VICTORIAN RAILWAYS EXPERIENCED A GREAT DEAL OF COMPETITION AFTER WORLD WAR 1 WITH MANY RETURNED SERVICEMEN INVESTING IN MOTOR VEHICLES. TO MEET THIS COMPETITION THE RAILWAYS STARTED A MELBOURNE TO GEELONG ROAD MOTOR SERVICE USING WHITE VEHICLES WITH BODIES BUILT AT NEWPORT WORKSHOPS, ON THE 30TH NOVEMBER 1925. THIS SERVICE PROVED TO BE QUITE PROFITABLE AND OTHER SERVICES WERE PLANNED.
ON THE 13TH SEPTEMBER 1926, THE VICTORIAN RAILWAYS STARTED A CO-ORDINATED ROAD AND RAIL SERVICE FROM MONBULK AND MELBOURNE. THE BUSES RAN FROM UPPER FERNTREE GULLY STATION AND MONBULK VIA BELGRAVE. THE SERVICE OPERATED EVERY DAY AND A BOOKING AGENCY WAS OPENED AT SMITH’S RAILWAY CAFE IN MAIN STREET, BELGRAVE. HERE THEY ISSUED THROUGH TICKETS TO MELBOURNE USING THE BUS AND TRAIN. THE DRIVER ISSUED LOCAL RIDERS WITH TICKETS. THIS SERVICE WAS WITHDRAWN ON THE 10TH OCTOBER 1926 AND ON THE 13TH OCTOBER 1926 A THROUGH BUS SERVICE FROM BELGRAVE TO MELBOURNE WAS INAUGURATED USING WHITE COACHES. SINGLE JOURNEY TICKETS WERE AVAILABLE FROM SPENCER AND FLINDERS STREET STATIONS AND THE BELGRAVE AGENCY TO EAST BURWOOD AND LOWER FERNTREE GULLY (NOW CALLED MOUNTAIN GATE). DAY RETURNS WERE AVAILABLE BETWEEN MELBOURNE AND BELGRAVE. THE BUS DRIVERS ISSUED PAPER CHECK TICKETS FOR ALL OTHER INTERMEDIATE JOURNEYS. ON THE 17TH DECEMBER 1927 THIS SERVICE WAS EXTENDED VIA HIAWATHA VALLEY AND KALLISTA TO MONBULK. AGENCIES WERE ESTABLISHED AT KALLISTA AND THE MOUNTAIN GRANDE CAFE IN MONBULK. BOTH THESE AGENCIES SOLD EDMONDSON TICKETS. FROM THE 11TH DECEMBER 1928 COMBINED BUS AND TRAIN WEEKEND RETURN TICKETS TO MELBOURNE WERE AVAILABLE FROM THE MONBULK AGENCY. FROM THE 1ST JUNE 1937 RETURN TICKETS TO MELBOURNE FOR THE JOINT ROAD/RAIL SERVICES WERE INTRODUCED.
BY 1927, COMPETITION BETWEEN THE BUS INDUSTRY AND THE RAILWAYS WAS BECOMING CUT THROAT. THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT, IN AN EFFORT TO HELP THE RAILWAYS, ENACTED THE MOTOR OMNIBUS (COUNTRY AND URBAN) ACT IN DECEMBER 1927. THIS ACT WAS KNOWN AS THE HOGAN BUSES BAN SO NAMED AFTER THE PREMIER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LEGISLATION. THIS PRESCRIBED THAT ANY MOTOR VEHICLE WITH SEATS FOR SIX OR MORE PEOPLE COULD NOT BE USED TO CARRY PASSENGERS ON ROADS AT SEPARATE AND DISTINCT FARES FOR EACH, EXCEPT ON AN APPROVED ROUTE, WITHOUT A LICENCE. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY WAS USING THE RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS BOARDS TO SOAK UP THE GROWING UNEMPLOYMENT AND THIS WAS CONTINUED OVER THE YEARS. THE BODY FOR APPROVING SERVICES IN MELBOURNE AND ITS SUBURBS WAS THE MELBOURNE CITY COUNCIL. THE REST OF VICTORIA WAS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS BOARD. THE VICTORIAN RAILWAYS WAS EXEMPT FROM THESE REGULATIONS BUT THEY HAD TO HAVE THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL BEFORE OPERATING ANY ROAD SERVICE. THIS ACT SEVERELY RESTRICTED THE HILLS OPERATORS. UNAUTHORISED DICKY SEATS WERE FITTED AND PASSENGERS TRAVELLED SITTING ON MUDGUARDS AND HANGING ON TO RUNNING BOARDS ON BUSY DAYS.
THE RAILWAYS WERE STILL HAVING TROUBLE COMPETING WITH THE OTHER HILLS’ OPERATORS AS THE WHITE BUSES THEY USED WERE NO MATCH FOR THE SPEEDY HUDSON AND STUDIEBAKER STRETCHED CARS THE INDEPENDENTS USED. THE VICTORIAN RAILWAYS ABANDONED THE MELBOURNE TO MONBULK SERVICE ON THE 3RD OCTOBER 1928. A SERVICE TO CONNECT WITH THE TRAINS WAS STARTED FROM THE UPPER FERNTREE GULLY STATION TO MONBULK VIA BELGRAVE AND UPWEY. THE 7TH JULY 1930 SAW A SECOND SERVICE FROM THE UPPER FERNTREE GULLY STATION TO GEMBROOK VIA BELGRAVE FOLLOWING THE REDUCTION IN PASSENGER SERVICE ON THE NARROW GAUGE LINE. THIS SERVICE WAS CUT BACK TO COCKATOO ON THE 20TH APRIL 1931 BECAUSE OF COMPETITION FROM 5 PASSENGER CARS. F. G. KOLLOSCHE, BROTHER OF JACK REMEMBERS ONE JOURNEY HE DID FROM BELGRAVE TO GEMBROOK WITH AN A MODEL FORD CARRYING 13 PASSENGERS INCLUDING THOSE ON THE RUNNING BOARD. ON THE WAY HE HAD A PUNCTURE AND HAVING NO JACK, THE MALE PASSENGERS HELD THE CAR OFF THE GROUND WHILE THE WHEEL WAS CHANGED. THE SERVICE CARS HAD A DISTINCTIVE CHROME “U S” SYMBOL ON THE GRILLE. CLARKE AND DEVINE AMALGAMATED WITH TUTT AND STORRIE IN 1933.
FOLLOWING THE PASSING OF THE TRANSPORT REGULATION ACT IN 1933, THE TRANSPORT REGULATION BOARD WAS SET UP. THIS BODY EVENTUALLY TOOK OVER THE REGULATION OF PASSENGER SERVICES. SERVICES FROM MELBOURNE WERE OPERATED TO VARIOUS DESTINATIONS IN THE DANDENONG RANGES IN THE EARLY 1930S. A SUBMISSION WAS MADE TO THE T. R. B. ABOUT 1934 BY SEVERAL OF THE HILLS OPERATORS IN AN EFFORT TO EASE THE RESTRICTIONS ON THE SIZE OF THE BUSES USED. THE T. R. B. MUST HAVE AGREED AS 9 PASSENGER VEHICLES SOON APPEARED. SOME OF THE OPERATORS WERE JACK KOLLOSCHE TRADING AS U. S. MOTORS (BELGRAVE) LTD WHO RAN BETWEEN MELBOURNE AND BELGRAVE, MONBULK AND GEMBROOK WITH 12 VEHICLES, HARRY TUTT AND LES STORRIE WHO OPERATED FROM MELBOURNE TO SASSEFRAS AND OLINDA WITH 9 VEHICLES, SAM PATERSON WHO HAD 2 CARS ON THE SAME ROUTE, JACK GREEN AND DELANEY WHO OPERATED BETWEEN MELBOURNE AND BELGRAVE, KALLISTA, THE PATCH, MONBULK AND SILVAN WITH 6 VEHICLES AND HUBERT JEEVES OF KALORAMA WHO OPERATED FROM MELBOURNE TO CROYDON, MONTROSE AND MOUNT DANDENONG. ON THE 6TH MARCH THE TRANSPORT REGULATION BOARD HELD A PUBLIC ENQUIRY INTO ALL ASPECTS OF PASSENGER TRANSPORT IN THE HILLS.
AROUND 1935 THE BUSINESS INTERESTS OF JACK KOLLOSCHE AND TED AFFLECK WERE DIVIDED. THEY TOSSED A COIN TO SEE WHO WOULD GET THE BELGRAVE BUSINESS AND THE FRANKSTON BUSINESS. JACK KOLLOSCHE WON THE BELGRAVE BUSINESS AND FORMED U. S. MOTORS (BELGRAVE) LTD.
U. S. MOTORS TOOK OVER THE SERVICE OF WILLIAM (BILL) T. PARKIN WHICH RAN FROM BELGRAVE TO BELGRAVE SOUTH ON THE 24TH MAY, 1937. IN 1938 TUTT AND STORRIE SOLD OUT TO U. S. MOTORS AND THEY APPLIED TO REPLACE THE TUTT AND STORRIE FLEET WITH 6 VEHICLES TO CARRY 14 PASSENGERS EACH. THESE WERE TO REPLACE VEHICLES WITH A TOTAL CAPACITY OF 70 PASSENGERS.
ON THE 18TH DECEMBER 1941 THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL ISSUED AN ORDER TO SUSPEND ALL THROUGH SERVICES INTO MELBOURNE WHERE THEY WERE IN COMPETITION WITH THE RAILWAYS. THIS WAS TO CONSERVE FUEL AND RUBBER, BOTH OF WHICH WERE IMPORTED INTO AUSTRALIA AT THAT TIME. THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC ZONE HAD PUT THEM IN SHORT SUPPLY. THIS AFFECTED SERVICES FROM THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA, THE DANDENONG RANGES, WARBURTON, HEALESVILLE, MOUNT EVELYN AND WHITTLESEA. THE VICTORIAN RAILWAYS MADE AN AGREEMENT WITH U. S. MOTORS TO WITHDRAW ALL RAIL BUS SERVICES FROM THE DANDENONG RANGES IN RETURN FOR THE CO-ORDINATION OF THE U. S BUS SCHEDULES WITH THE TRAIN SERVICES. THE RAILWAYS SOLD U. S. A THORNYCROFT, 2 SHORT WHEELBASE MAPLE LEAFS AND 7 WHITE BUSES. THESE WERE JOINED THE FOLLOWING YEAR BY A FORD AND A LONG WHEELBASE MAPLE LEAF WHICH HAD BEEN ORDERED BY THE RAILWAYS FOR THE HILLS SERVICES. PASSENGERS HOLDING PERIODICAL TICKETS HAD TO SEE THE STATION MASTER AT UPPER FERNTREE GULLY STATION FOR EITHER A REFUND OR REPLACEMENT TICKETS ON THE NARROW GAUGE LINE TO GEMBROOK.
AFTER THE WAR FORDS AND INTERNATIONAL KS5 WERE THE BUSES USED BEFORE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE BEDFORD/ COMMONWEALTH AIRCRAFT BUSES IN 1948. THESE BUSES SOON BECAME STANDARD AS THEY DID IN MANY VICTORIAN FLEETS. THE LAST FORD DELIVERED IN 1948 WAS AN INTERESTING VEHICLE. ANSAIR BUILT A BODY ON A CONVERTED TRUCK CHASSIS. THE CHASSIS WAS ALTERED TO FORWARD CONTROL AND THIS CHANGED ITS DYNAMIC PROPERTIES. AFTER DELIVERY, THE SPRINGS HAD TO BE REVERSED AND A WIDER AXLE FITTED TO IMPROVE ITS STABILITY. THE TWO PREVIOUS FORDS (45 AND 46) HAD BEEN BOUGHT FROM AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL AIRWAYS WHERE THEY WERE USED TO TAKE PASSENGERS FROM THE CITY TO ESSENDON AIRPORT. THEY HAD UNDERSLUNG SPRINGS BUT THE GROUND CLEARANCE WAS TOO LOW TO ALLOW THEM TO GET AROUND THE BENDS ON THE MOUNT DANDENONG TOURIST ROAD. AFTER THE SPRINGS WERE RAISED THEY COULD COPE WITH THE ROAD CONDITIONS BETTER. THE FIRST BEDFORD OBS WERE FOUND TO BE VERY UNDERPOWERED AND WERE KEPT FOR THE FLATTER ROUTES.
THE FULL RANGE OF TICKETS USED FOR THE COMBINED ROAD AND RAIL SERVICES ARE DESCRIBED IN THE BOOKS ON VICTORIAN RAILWAY TICKETS PUBLISHED BY H. K. ATKINSON IN 1994 AND 2001.
IN AN ARTICLE WRITTEN BY FRANK SHENNEN IN TRUCK AND BUS TRANSPORTATION IT WAS NOTED THAT THE BUSES CARRIED THE FOLLOWING FOR DELIVERY TO PLACES ALONG THE ROUTES, MEAT, POULTRY, BREAD, GENERAL PRODUCE, CHEMIST PRESCRIPTIONS, MAIL, NEWSPAPER, AND PERIODICALS.
MAINTENANCE WAS CARRIED OUT IN A SHED LEASED FROM THE RAILWAYS IN THE UPPER FERNTREE GULLY STATION YARD WHICH WAS THE FORMER VICTORIAN RAILWAYS MOTOR GARAGE, WITH A SMALLER FACILITY AT BELGRAVE. U.S. MOTORS LATER BUILT AN ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE FACILITY NEXT TO THE V. R. GARAGE. THE OUTSIDE WORK WAS UNDERTAKEN AS WELL AS FLEET MAINTENANCE AT BELGRAVE, WHICH HAD A FORD AGENCY. AFTER THE EXTENSION TO THE ELECTRIC RAIL LINE ALL WORK WAS DONE AT BELGRAVE. DURING AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE WAR LOADINGS WERE HEAVY. MANY PEOPLE HAD MOVED TO THE HILLS AWAY FROM LIKELY AIR RAID TARGETS IN MELBOURNE. DAILY PASSENGER NUMBERS WERE ABOUT 2000; WITH UP TO 6000 ON WEEKEND DAYS AND 9000 ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AND ANNUAL HOLIDAY TIMES. TO COPE WITH THIS EXTRA BUSES WERE HIRED WITH DRIVERS AND THE OFFICE STAFF WERE USED AS CONDUCTORS. THESE BUSES INCLUDED THE ST JOHNS SCHOOL BUS, AN INTERNATIONAL KB5 WITH AN AUSTERITY BODY. ITS REGULAR RUN WAS FROM GEMBROOK TO THE CONVENT IN FERNTREE GULLY AND IT WAS DRIVEN BY FATHER QUINLAN. MOST OF THE OTHER BUSES WERE HIRED FROM MELBOURNE OPERATORS BUT WERE KEPT ON THE LESS STEEP RUNS AS THEY HAD DIFFICULTY IN CLIMBING THE HILLS. ONE BUS THAT WAS ABLE TO HANDLE ALL THE RUNS WAS A SCHOOL BUS FROM LOCKINGTON. THE OWNER-DRIVER OF THIS AUSTERITY BODIED LEND LEASE CHEVROLET KEPT IT IN TOP CONDITION AND IT APPEARED NEARLY EVERY SUMMER ON HIRE TO U. S.
IN 1943 THE RAILWAY AUTHORITIES BEGAN THE PLANNING PROCESS TO EXTEND THE BROAD GAUGE ELECTRIC TRAIN SERVICE TO BELGRAVE. IN 1948 U. S. MOTORS, WHO AT THIS TIME HAD A MONOPOLY OF BUS SERVICES IN THE SOUTHERN DANDENONG RANGES, APPLIED TO RESUME THEIR THROUGH SERVICES TO MELBOURNE. THIS LED TO A PUBLIC ENQUIRY ON THE 30TH AUGUST 1950. THE APPLICATION WAS REFUSED.
AS WELL AS THE DANDENONG RANGES SERVICES, THE KOLLOSCHE FAMILY ALSO RAN AN ISOLATED COMPANY CALLED NOOJEE MOTORS. OVER THE YEARS THIS ENTITY OPERATED UP TO 6 VEHICLES, INCLUDING SERVICE CARS, AT ONE TIME ON SERVICES FROM NOOJEE TO TANJIL BREN, MYHREE MILLS AND WARRIGUL WHERE THE BUSES CONNECTED WITH THE MELBOURNE TRAINS. ON SUNDAYS THE BUSES RAN THROUGH TO MELBOURNE. ORIGINALLY SIDE LOADING OLDSMOBILES AND DIAMOND Ts WERE USED BUT WITH FORDS AND BEDFORDS APPEARING IN LATER YEARS. ALL MAJOR REPAIR WORK WAS DONE AT BELGRAVE. AROUND 1960, WITH THE DECLINE IN THE TIMBER INDUSTRY, THE NOOJEE FLEET WAS DOWN TO ONE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS SOLD TO THE DRIVER, PAT JOHNSTON WITH THE LICENCE.
HARRY JEWELL WAS A DRIVER WITH U. S. MOTORS WHEN HE SET UP PANORAMA TAXI SERVICE. HARRY THEN OBTAINED A LICENSE FOR A LOCAL SERVICE AROUND THE UPWEY AREA TO THE SOUTH AND EAST OF THE STATION AND UP TO BELGRAVE HEIGHTS BY THE BACK ROAD. HIS ORIGINAL VEHICLE WAS A 1930S FARGO 12 SEATER BUS, WHICH WAS OPERATED BY SHAW’S BUS SERVICE OF DROMANA. THIS BUS WAS TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE BY MR SHAW IN THE LATE 1940S WHEN HE REPLACED IT WITH A LARGER CAPACITY CHEVROLET. HARRY JEWELL TOOK THE BODY OFF THE FARGO AND MOUNTED IT ON A 2-TON AUSTIN K2 TRUCK CHASSIS. AS THE TRUCK CHASSIS WAS LONGER THAN THE FARGO HARRY REBUILT THE FRONT OF THE BODY. THE PANORAMA SERVICE WAS STARTED IN 1949 AND HARRY OPERATED IT TO THE 1ST SEPTEMBER WHEN IT WAS SOLD TO DON NUGENT AND W. D. McKenzie WITH THE AUSTIN. THEY OPERATED THE SERVICE UNTIL THEY SOLD IT BACK TO HARRY JEWELL ON THE 30TH JUNE 1953. THE AUSTIN COVERED OVER 100,000 MILES ON THE UPWEY AND BELGRAVE SERVICE AND WAS LAST SEEN BY DON NUGENT HEADING SOUTH IN PUNT ROAD, RICHMOND IN DECEMBER 1955 CONVERTED TO A MOBILE PIE SHOP. HARRY REPLACED THE AUSTIN WITH A BEDFORD OB WITH C. A. C. BODY FROM GAINER OF COLAC. HOWEVER THE BEDFORD OB WITH ITS 28 H.P. ENGINE COULD NOT CLIMB THE HILLS AND HARRY REPLACED IT WITH A BEDFORD SB WITH C. A. C. BODYWORK FROM SPENCER’S BUS SERVICE (E. S. O. S.) A NEW BEDFORD SB WITH COMAIR SHARKFRONT BODY REPLACED THIS VEHICLE BEFORE HARRY JEWELL SOLD OUT TO U. S. MOTORS IN 1961.
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THE 21ST JULY 1948 WAS THE START OF A TUESDAY ONLY SERVICE FROM BELGRAVE AND BELGRAVE SOUTH TO THE DANDENONG MARKET. IN APRIL 1955 THE ROUTE WAS VARIED TO SERVE HALLAM ROAD, NARRE WARREN NORTH AND THE AREA ALONG HEATHERTON ROAD. A LATER ADDITION TO THE RUN COMMENCED FROM CLEMATIS AND CONNECTED TO THE GEMBROOK SERVICE.
IN 1953 U. S. MOTORS BOUGHT 4 LEYLAND TS5S FROM THE VICTORIAN RAILWAYS FLEET. THREE WERE OVERHAULED AT FERNTREE GULLY WORKSHOPS COMPLETE WITH ENGINE REBORES AND THE FOURTH WAS USED FOR SPARES. THEY WERE NUMBERED 56-58. 58 WAS LATER SOLD TO AN OPERATOR IN QUEENSLAND WHO USED IT ON A SERVICE FROM CAIRNS TO YORKEYS KNOB. THE FATE OF 56 IS DETAILED LATER.
THE OLYMPIC GAMES TOOK PLACE IN MELBOURNE IN 1956 AND U. S. MOTORS SUPPLIED 4 BUSES WHICH WERE USED OVER THE 6 WEEKS THE GAMES AND PRE-GAME TRAINING TOOK PLACE. 6 DRIVERS STAYED IN 3 CARAVANS ON A SITE ADJACENT TO SOUTHERN AND ORIEL ROADS IN HEIDLEBERG. TWO NEW BEDFORDS (60 AND 63) WERE USED ALONG WITH 61 AND 62 BEDFORD COACHES EX TRANS OTWAY. EACH DRIVER WAS PAID 49-10 POUNDS PER WEEK FOR THE SIX WEEKS WORK.
THE 26TH OF JULY, 1956 SAW U. S. MOTORS TAKE OVER THE UPPER FERNTREE GULLY TO DANDENONG VIA SCORESBY SERVICE OF DYSON’S PENINSULA MOTORS LTD OF FRANKSTON. H. AND M. SADLER PIONEERED THIS ROUTE AS A FERNTREE GULLY TO FRANKSTON VIA DANDENONG SERVICE. ON THE 9TH OF APRIL, 1936 THE SERVICE PASSED TO T. C. WOOD OF FRANKSTON WHO IMMEDIATELY PLACED TWO VEHICLES ON THE ROUTE, ONE ADDITIONAL AND ONE TO SUBSTITUTE FOR AN EXISTING BUS. IN JULY 1936 THE ROUTE HAD ONE JOURNEY EXTENDED TO BELGRAVE WITH CLOSED DOOR CONDITIONS FROM UPPER FERNTREE GULLY TO BELGRAVE. AN EXTENSION OF THE SERVICE TO CROYDON VIA BAYSWATER WAS GRANTED IN MAY 1938 FOR THE BENEFIT OF PATRONS OF THE DANDENONG MARKETS. ABOUT 1945 THE LICENCE WAS BOUGHT BY DYSON’S PENINSULA MOTORS OF FRANKSTON AND THE LICENCE WAS VARIED IN MARCH 1946 TO ALLOW SOME JOURNEYS TO TRAVEL VIA LOWER FERNTREE GULLY STATION TO BORONIA STATION AND RETURN VIA A LOOP TO THE ORIGINAL ROUTE. THE ROUTE WAS SPLIT AT DANDENONG IN JULY 1956 BEFORE THE SALE OF THE DANDENONG TO UPPER FERNTREE GULLY SECTION. THE SERVICE ALWAYS TERMINATED AT THE ROYAL HOTEL IN UPPER FERNTREE GULLY AND NOT THE STATION. U. S. WAS OPERATING JOURNEYS DAILY FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAY PLUS TWO SATURDAY TRIPS FROM THE 23RD JANUARY, 1957 WITH FOUR TRIPS EXTENDED TO THE G. M. H., INTERNATIONAL AND HEINZ FACTORIES FOR WORKERS. PASSENGERS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO BE PICKED UP OR SET DOWN WITHIN 1 MILE OF DANDENONG STATION ON STUD ROAD.
ANOTHER VENTURE TRIED BY U. S. MOTORS ABOUT 1963 WAS U. S. TAXIS. U. S. MOTORS BOUGHT THE LICENCES OF THE 20 OR SO OWNER OPERATED CABS IN THE DISTRICT AND REPLACED THEM WITH NEW HOLDEN EH SEDANS. TED FITTON WHO OPERATED TAXI CABS IN THE AREA WAS MADE MANAGER OF THIS ENTITY.
IN THE 1950S AND 1960S, U. S. MOTORS WERE VERY MUCH A PART OF THE FABRIC OF LIFE IN THE HILLS. BUSES FOR THE BELGRAVE CINEMA LEFT OLINDA, MONBULK AND EMERALD EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT AND RETURNED AFTER THE SHOW FINISHED. THE EMERALD CINEMA BUS DRIVER TOOK OVER THE UPPER PAKENHAM HIGH SCHOOL BUS AT THE LEVEL CROSSING IN EMERALD AT 4.30 P.M. AND WENT ON FROM THERE. THESE TRIPS WERE VERY POPULAR IN THE WINTER AND AT TIMES TWO BUSES WERE USED FROM OLINDA TO COPE WITH PEOPLE FROM THE GUESTHOUSES. ON SATURDAY NIGHT THE OLINDA BUS TOOK THE CROWD FROM THE OLINDA DANCE TO UPPER FERNTREE GULLY AND THE BUS WHICH LEFT UPPER GULLY STATION AT 12.45 A.M. WOULD CLEAR THE PEOPLE FROM THE DANCES AT BELGRAVE AND EMERALD HALLS. ON SOME OCCASIONS THERE WERE STANDING LOADS AFTER EMERALD. THIS TRIP WAS COVERED BY THE DRIVER WHO STARTED AT BELGRAVE AT MIDNIGHT AND HE RETURNED TO BELGRAVE ABOUT 2.30 A.M. HEAVY LOADS WERE CARRIED TO CHURCH CAMPS AT UPWEY AND BELGRAVE HEIGHTS DURING HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS.
NEWSPAPERS AND MAIL WERE IMPORTANT SOURCES OF REVENUE IN THOSE DAYS. THE HERALD NEWSPAPERS WERE PICKED UP AT UPPER FERNTREE GULLY STATION FOR DELIVERY IN THE HILLS AREA EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT WHILE THE SUN AND AGE NEWSPAPERS WERE DESPATCHED BY BUS FROM THE RAILHEAD DAILY. THE 7.30 A.M. FROM UPPER FERNTREE GULLY TO GEMBROOK ON A SATURDAY WOULD BE FULLY LOADED WITH PASSENGERS, MAIL AND NEWSPAPERS. IT WOULD ALSO COLLECT THE MEAT ORDERS FROM THE BUTCHER IN EMERALD FOR DELIVERY ALONG THE RUN THROUGH MACCLESFIELD, AVONSLEIGH, and COCKATOO INTO GEMBROOK. U. S. MOTORS WERE CERTIFIED “ROYAL MAIL” CARRIERS BY THE POST MASTER GENERAL AND DRIVERS HAD TO PICK UP THE MAILBOX KEYS FROM THE OFFICES AT BELGRAVE AND OLINDA. ALL THE MAIL CAME BY TRAIN TO UPPER FERNTREE GULLY STATION WHERE IT WAS SORTED BY ONE OF THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS. THE BUS DRIVERS WHO ARRIVED AT THE STATION AFTER THE 7.30 A.M. ARRIVALS WOULD PICK UP THE MAIL AND PAPERS AND DELIVER THEM ON THE RETURN TRIPS. ALL THE POST OFFICES AND ROADSIDE COLLECTION BOXES WERE CLEARED AND PUT ON THE TRAIN. THE BELGRAVE MIDNIGHT DRIVER CLEARED THE BELGRAVE POST OFFICE, TECOMA, UPWEY AND UPPER FERNTREE GULLY POST OFFICE BOXES AND HANDED IT TO THE TRAIN GUARD. ON SUNDAYS ALL THE MAIL FROM THE DANDENONG RANGES WAS COLLECTED BY THE BUS DRIVERS FOR ONWARD TRANSMISSION BY TRAIN TO MELBOURNE. AFTER THE ELECTRIC RAIL LINE WAS EXTENDED TO BELGRAVE BOB CLARKE WHO USED A ROPE TO DROP THE MAIL DOWN TO THE STATION FROM THE BELGRAVE BRIDGE DID THE MAIL SORTING AT THERE.
FOLLOWING A PUBLIC ENQUIRY BY THE T. R. B. IN JUNE 1961, THE AUTHORITIES DECREED THAT ALL SERVICES WHICH THEN STARTED FROM UPPER FERNTREE GULLY STATION TO BELGRAVE AND DESTINATIONS BEYOND THERE WOULD BE CUT BACK TO THE RAILHEAD AT BELGRAVE WHEN THE ELECTRIC RAILWAY LINE WAS EXTENDED THERE ON THE 19TH FEBRUARY 1962. 7 DRIVERS WERE RETRENCHED AND THE FLEET STRENGTH WENT FROM 25 TO 21 VEHICLES.
ONE FEATURE OF THE U. S. FLEET WAS THEIR COLOUR SCHEME. FROM THE DELIVERY OF BUS NUMBER 39IN 1946 ALL THE BUSES WERE ALL PAINTED A DIFFERENT COLOUR. JACK KOLLOSCHE THOUGHT THAT PEOPLE WOULD NOTICE WHEN HE BOUGHT A NEW BUS AS IT WAS DIFFERENT. THIS ALSO HAD ADVANTAGES WHEN THE BUSES WERE LOADED AT THE UPPER GULLY STATION IN PEAK HOLIDAY TIMES. THE LOADING SUPERVISORS COULD DIRECT PASSENGER TO THE CORRECT COLOURED BUS, VERY HANDY WHEN THERE WERE UP TO 300 PEOPLE BOARDING 10 BUSES FOR DIFFERENT DESTINATIONS. UP TO 1946 ALL BUSES WERE PAINTED IN THE COLOURS OF VICTORIAN RAILWAYS. THIS WAS ABANDONED IN 1965 WHEN ALL BUSES WERE PAINTED IN THE RED AND WHITE LIVERY.
JACK KOLLOSCHE MANAGED THE COMPANY WITH THE HELP OF HIS BROTHER, GEORGE RIGHT THROUGH ALL THE TURMOIL BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
GEOFF MOUNTJOY, THE SON OF PETER MOUNTJOY, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE T. R. B., JOINED U. S. MOTORS IN 1946. BY 1951 HE WAS ASSISTANT MANAGER AND COST ACCOUNTANT. IN 1960, JACK KOLLOSCHE RETIRED FROM DIRECT MANAGEMENT OF THE BUSINESS AND MAX KOLLOSCHE, JACK’S SON, AND GEOFF MOUNTJOY TOOK OVER RUNNING THE COMPANY. JACK PASSED AWAY ON THE 12TH AUGUST 1963. HE HAD BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE ROAD PASSENGER SERVICE OPERATORS ASSOCIATION FROM ITS FORMATION IN 1954 AND BEFORE THAT THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR USERS IN 1965, MAX KOLLOSCHE AND GEOFF MOUNTJOY BOUGHT OUT THE SHARE HOLDINGS OF OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY.
GEOFF MOUNTJOY CONTINUED WORKING WITH R. P. S. O. A. BECOMING THE PRESIDENT OF THAT ORGANIZATION IN 1963 TO 1965.
SHELL SERVICE STATIONS HAD BEEN OPERATED OVER THE YEARS AT BELGRAVE, CROYDON, WANTIRNA AND
OLINDA. BUSES WERE GARAGED AT OLINDA WHERE THE BUILDING STILL STANDS AS A REPAIR SHOP. MONBULK GARAGE IS NOW A SERVICE STATION AT THE TOP OF MAIN STREET. THE GEMBROOK GARAGE IS NOT THERE ANY LONGER BUT THE EMERALD ONE IS NOW PART OF A SUBURBAN PROPERTY. THE ORIGINAL BELGRAVE DEPOT HAS BEEN EXTENSIVELY REBUILT OVER THE YEARS.
ON THE 11TH MARCH 1965 U. S. MOTORS APPLIED FOR SERVICES FROM BELGRAVE TO THE NEW SHOPPING CENTRE AT CHADSTONE AND A SERVICE FROM DANDENONG TO CROYDON. THESE SERVICES WOULD REPLACE THE EXISTING BELGRAVE TO DANDENONG SERVICE. THE BELGRAVE TO CHADSTONE SERVICE WAS APPROVED ON 30TH SEPTEMBER 1965 WITH CLOSED DOOR CONDITIONS FROM SCORESBY TO WHEELERS HILL TO PROTECT THE EXISTING VENTURA SERVICE. THE DANDENONG TO CROYDON SERVICE WAS DENIED. A SERVICE FROM BELGRAVE TO CROYDON VIA UPPER FERNTREE GULLY STATION, LOWER FERNTREE GULLY STATION, AND DORSET ROAD WAS APPROVED ON THE 3RD NOVEMBER 1965 WITH CLOSED DOOR CONDITIONS FROM THE JUNCTION OF BURWOOD HIGHWAY AND DORSET ROAD TO CROYDON STATION. IT IS DOUBTFUL IF THIS LICENCE WAS TAKEN UP WITH THESE RESTRICTIVE CONDITIONS. ON THE SAME DATE APPROVAL WAS GIVEN FOR THE DANDENONG SERVICE TO BE EXTENDED FROM UPPER FERNTREE GULLY STATION TO BELGRAVE STATION.
OVER THE YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL INCIDENTS WITH U. S. BUSES. ONE NOTABLE ONE WAS ON APRIL 24TH, 1947 WHEN MAPLE LEAF NUMBER 29 COMING FROM MELBOURNE WITH A FULL STANDING LOAD, DURING ONE OF THE RAILWAY STRIKES TRIED TO BEAT THE NARROW GAUGE STEAM TRAIN OVER THE LEVEL CROSSING. THE STEAM ENGINE WAS RUNNING BACKWARDS AND THE RESULTING COLLISION PUT THE BUS ON ITS SIDE WITH 13 PEOPLE INJURED. THE CASE FOR DAMAGES WENT TO COURT AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY APPEALED TO THE HIGH COURT WHERE THE JUDGE RULED THAT A TRAIN HAS RIGHT OF WAY AT LEVEL CROSSINGS SO LONG AS IT GIVES WARNING OF ITS APPROACH. THE COMPANY ALSO HAD A COUPLE OF VEHICLES STOLEN. FORD NUMBER 35 WAS STOLEN FROM OLINDA ON SATURDAY NIGHT AND FOUND ON ONE OF THE SAFETY RAMPS ON THE MOUNT DANDENONG TOURIST ROAD NEAR TREMONT QUARRY LATER. BEDFORD SB NUMBER 54 WAS LOST IN ONE OF THE BUSH FIRES AND TURNED UP A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER IN EMERALD. DON HARRISON RECOUNTS THE FOLLOWING STORY OF LEYLAND NUMBER 56. BILL LUCAS HAD TO DRIVE THE BUS ON THE OLINDA RUN EVERY DAY. IT WENT MISSING AND BILL WAS GIVEN NUMBER 35 ONCE MORE, A FORD, AS A REPLACEMENT WHICH HE HAPPILY DROVE FOR SOME YEARS. MANY YEARS LATER THE LEYLAND WAS FOUND DERELICT AT TOMAHAWK VALLEY, NEAR BEENAK FULL OF EMPTY HANKEY BANNISTER WHISKY BOTTLES. BILL LUCAS HAS PROTESTED HIS INNOCENCE IN THIS MATTER TO THIS DAY.
IN 1971, JOHN USHER WHO OWNED CROYDON BUS SERVICE BOUGHT CONTROL OF U. S. MOTORS FROM THE KOLLOSCHE FAMILY. GEOFF MOUNTJOY REMAINED WITH THE NEW COMPANY AS FINANCE DIRECTOR. SERVICES TAKEN OVER WERE
691 MOUNTAIN GATE TO CHADSTONE,
692 BELGRAVE TO DANDENONG,
693 BELGRAVE TO CHADSTONE,
694 BELGRAVE TO OLINDA,
695 BELGRAVE TO GEMBROOK,
696 BELGRAVE TO MONBULK,
697 BELGRAVE TO BELGRAVE SOUTH,
698 OLINDA TO UPPER FERNTREE GULLY,
699 THE PANORAMA SERVICE FROM BELGRAVE TO UPWEY.
THERE WERE 30 VEHICLES IN THE COMBINED FLEETS.
IN OCTOBER 1972, JOHN USHER SOLD SOME OF THE U. S. MOTORS PART OF THE BUSINESS BACK TO GEOFF MOUNTJOY WHO USES THE COMPANY NAME OF TODAH PTY. LTD TRADING AS U. S. BUS LINES. TODAH IS HEBREW FOR THANKSGIVING. 21 VEHICLES WERE SOLD TO U. S. BUS LINES INCLUDING 16 FORMER U. S. MOTOR VEHICLES, WITH THE SERVICES 694, 695, 696, 697, 698, AND 699. ALONG WITH SOME SCHOOL SERVICES. INVICTA UNITED KEPT THE SERVICES 691, 692, 693 FROM BELGRAVE TO CHADSTONE AND DANDENONG AND SCHOOL SERVICES TO UPWEY HIGH SCHOOL AND FERNTREE GULLY TECHNICAL SCHOOL.
GEOFF MOUNTJOY MOVED TO BRISBANE IN 1973 AND BOUGHT HORNIBROOK BUS LINES. THE TASK OF RUNNING BUS COMPANIES IN TWO SEPARATE STATES EVENTUALLY BECAME TOO MUCH FOR GEOFF AND HE SOLD THE U. S. BUSLINES OPERATION TO JOE PULITANO IN 1982. THE NAME CHANGED TO PULFRAM CONSTRUCTIONS PTY. LTD. TRADING AS U. S. BUSLINES. THIS NAME REFLECTED JOE’S PREVIOUS BUSINESS INTERESTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. THE BUSINESS CONSISTED OF 5 ROUTES, 19 SCHOOL CONTRACTS AND 30 VEHICLES. THE COMPANY CONTINUED INTO THE TIME OF THE METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY WHERE U. S. BECAME CONTRACTORS TO THE GOVERNMENT TO OPERATE THEIR OWN ROUTES. TODAY THE COMPANY STILL OPERATES THE 5 CONTRACTED MET ROUTES AS WELL AS NUMEROUS SCHOOL CONTRACTS AND A THRIVING CHARTER COACH OPERATION.
HINO, VOLVO, SCANIA AND MAN VEHICLES NOW DOMINATE THE FLEET, WITH THE LAST BEDFORD PASSING ON TO THE MOUNT BULLER PASSENGER SERVICE, AN ASSOCIATED COMPANY. HOWEVER THE UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE STILL HAPPENS. ONE SPRING DAY IN 1997, THE GEMBROOK TO BELGRAVE BUS STOPPED IN EMERALD TO UNLOAD PASSENGERS. A LARGE ROTTWEILER DOG JUMPED IN THE BACK DOOR AND REFUSED TO BUDGE FROM THE BUS. THE BUS CONTINUED ON THE JOURNEY WITH THE PASSENGERS DOWN THE FRONT OF THE BUS AND THE DOG SNARLING UP THE BACK. AT BELGRAVE STATION IT WAS MET BY THE SHIRE RANGER WHO MANAGED TO ENTICE THE DOG FROM THE BUS. THE DOG THEN ATTACKED THE RANGER WHO WAS FORCED TO SHOOT IT. ONE OF THE HAZARDS OF RUNNING A BUS SERVICE.
THE DANDENONG RANGES HAS CHANGED OVER THE CENTURY FROM AN AREA OF GUESTHOUSES AND WEEKEND CAMPS TO A DAY TOURIST DESTINATION FOR THE FERN GULLIES, STEAM RAILWAY, NURSERIES AND RESTAURANTS.
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
STORY OF THE DANDENONGS BY HELEN COULSON.
THE PEOPLE MOVERS BY JOHN MADDOCK.
THE HISTORY OF V.R. AND U. S. MOTORS 1921-1964 BY DON HARRISON.
SUBURBAN TICKETS OF THE VICTORIAN RAILWAYS BY H. K. ATKINSON.
COUNTRY TICKETS OF THE VICTORIAN RAILWAYS BY H. K. ATKINSON.
TRUCK AND BUS TRANSPORTATION MARCH 1947 BY FRANK SHENNEN.
TRUCK AND BUS TRANSPORTATION NOVEMBER 1951 BY FRANK SHENNEN.
VICTORIAN RAILWAYS TIMETABLE OF 1917.
VICTORIAN RAILWAYS RECORDS.
BUS AND COACH SOCIETY OF VICTORIA NEWS SHEETS.
© I. D. Drummond.
APPENDIX 1
THIS IS A COPY OF THE SUBMISSION MADE TO THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY IN TO BUS SERVICES IN THE
DANDENONGS HELD BY THE TRANSPORT REGULATION BOARD ON THE 6TH MARCH 1934.
GENERAL CASE ON BEHALF OF TUTT AND STORRIE PTY. LTD., J. KOLLOSCHE, TRADING AS U. S. MOTORS AND GREEN AND DELANEY PTY. LTD.
THE PROPRIETORS OF THESE THREE MOTOR SERVICES CLAIM THAT THESE SERVICES SHOULD BE CONTINUED AND EXTENDED AS CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT ON THE FOLLOWING GROUNDS:-
1. TUTT & STORRIE PTY. LTD. HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING A REGULAR MOTOR SERVICE FROM MELBOURNE TO SASSAFRAS AND OLINDA FOR A PERIOD OF 21 YEARS CONTINUOUSLY. THERE ARE SIX SHAREHOLDERS IN THE BUSINESS, FIVE OF WHOM ARE WORKING IN THE BUSINESS AND ALL THEIR HOMES AND FAMILIES RESIDENT AT SASSAFRAS.
2. THEY CLAIM THE RIGHT AS CITIZENS TO EARN THEIR LIVING IN AN HONEST WAY AND NOT BE DEPRIVED OF IT EXCEPTING OF VERY EXTRA-ORDINARY REASONS, AND CONTEND THAT THE MAKING OF PROFITS BY THE RAILWAYS TO A GREATER OR LESS EXTENT IS NOT A GROUND FOR DEPRIVING THEM OF THEIR LIVELIHOOD.
3. AS PART OF THEIR SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY THEY HAVE A RAILWAY CONTRACT INVOLVING A REGULAR SCHEDULE FROM SASSAFRAS AND OLINDA TO THE TRAIN HEAD AT FERNTREE GULLY OF 6 TRIPS PER DAY MONDAY TO THURSDAY INCLUSIVE, 7 ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AND 4 TRIPS ON SUNDAY. THIS BUSINESS HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY UNPROFITABLE TO THEM.
4. THEY HAVE A FLEET OF 9 CARS, WHICH MAINTAIN A REGULAR SERVICE TO THE CITY ON ALL DAYS OF THE YEAR WITHOUT EXCEPTION. ANNEXED HERETO IS A TIMETABLE OF SUCH SERVICE.
5. THE SERVICE RENDERED BY THEM TO THE PUBLIC IS OF A TYPE WHICH THE RAILWAYS DO NOT FURNISH IN THAT IT INCLUDES A DOOR TO DOOR SERVICE WHICH IS DEMANDED BY AT LEAST 1/3 OF ALL TRAVELLERS. IT IS PROBABLE THAT THESE FOLK WOULD NOT TRAVEL BY TRAIN EVEN IF THE BUS SERVICES WERE COMPLETELY DISCONTINUED.
6. TRANSPORT SERVICE IS PROVIDED ALONG BURWOOD ROAD FROM LOWER FERNTREE GULLY TO THE CITY WHERE NO OTHER FORM OF TRANSPORT EXISTS FOR THE INHABITANTS. THIS AREA IS RAPIDLY BEING DEVELOPED AS A RESULT OF THE CONVENIENCE OF THE TRANSPORT SERVICE. FOUR NEW HOUSES ARE BEING BUILT ON THE MAIN ROAD AT THE PRESENT TIME.
7. ABOUT 1/10 OF THE PASSENGERS ARE CARRIED ARE INTERSTATE OR OVERSEAS VISITORS WHO ENJOY A MOTOR OUTING TO THE MOUNTAINS AND VISIT THE VARIOUS TOURIST RESORTS SITUATED THERE. IT IS PROBABLE THAT THIS TRAFFIC WOULD NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO THE RAILWAYS IN THE EVENT OF THE BUS SERVICE BEING DISCONTINUED BUT WOULD CEASE ALTOGETHER. THIS CLASS OF PATRONAGE IS RAPIDLY INCREASING. A CONSIDERABLE PART OF THE TRANSPORT IS OF RESIDENTS OF THE MOUNTAIN WHO VISIT THE CITY ON FRIDAY EVENINGS FOR SHOPPING AND ON WEEKNIGHTS FOR THE THEATRE. THIS CLASS OF TRANSPORT IS NOT CATERED FOR AT ALL BY THE RAILWAYS, IN THAT RAILWAY TIMETABLES AND TIME OF TRANSPORT OCCUPIED BY THE TRAINS MAKES THE SERVICE EITHER TOO INCONVENIENT OR UNATTRACTIVE TO THE INHABITANTS.
8. IF THE RESTRICTION TO 5 PASSENGER BUSES WAS REMOVED (THIS RESTRICTION WAS PURPOSELY INTRODUCED BY THE RAILWAYS DEPARTMENT TO STIFLE ALL POSSIBLE COMPETITION BY ROAD TRANSPORT) CONSIDERABLY CHEAPER TRANSPORT TO THE MOUNTAINS COULD BE PROVIDED AND THE POPULATION RESIDENT THERE WOULD RAPIDLY INCREASE WITH CHEAPER TRANSPORT. THE GREATER NUMBER OF PEOPLE RESIDENT ON THE MOUNTAIN WOULD NECESSARILY INCREASE CERTAIN CLASSES OF TRANSPORT MORE SUITABLE TO THE RAILWAYS THAN THE BUSES AND WOULD PROBABLY MAKE UP FOR ANY POSSIBLE TRANSFER OF PATRONAGE FROM THE BUSES TO THE RAILWAY.
9. THE BUS SERVICES TO THE MOUNTAINS ARE HIGHLY PROFITABLE TO THE STATE. APART FROM THE ORDINARY TAXATION SUCH AS INCOME TAX, LAND TAX, AND UNEMPLOYMENT TAX THE SERVICES HAVE TO PAY PETROL DUTY, A DIRECT PROFIT TO THE GOVERNMENT OF 1/2D. PER CAR MILE FOR THE USE OF THE ROADS. IN ADDITION THEY PAY RATES AND TAXES ON THEIR GARAGE PROPERTIES AND ON THEIR HOME, AND INCIDENTALLY ASSIST THE REVENUE BY THE AMOUNT OF CUSTOMS DUTIES PAYABLE ON MOTOR CARS AND PARTS IMPORTED BY THEM, AND ALSO GIVE EMPLOYMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MOTOR TYRES WHICH IS AN EXCLUSIVE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY.
10. IN EARNING THIS REVENUE AND PROFIT THE STATE IS NOT EXPOSED TO ANY LIABILITY FOR WORKING EXPENSES OR FOR LOSSES OF CAPITAL OR INTEREST THEREON OR IN ANY OTHER WAY. ON THE RAILWAYS ON THE CONTRARY, THE STATE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAYMENTS OF CAPITAL BORROWED TO CONSTRUCT RAILWAYS, PAYMENT OF INTEREST AT AGREED RATES THEREON WHETHER IT BE EARNED BY THE RAILWAYS OR NOT, PAYMENTS OF 83% OF THE SUPERANNUATION FUND FOR RAILWAY OFFICERS AND FOR PROVISION OF FREE PASSES FOR ALL AUSTRALIAN RAILWAYS DURING THE EMPLOYEE’S HOLIDAYS FOR THE EMPLOYEE’S WIFE AND FAMILY. IT IS CONTENDED THAT ROAD TRANSPORT SHOULD NOT BE INTERFERED WITH AND HAMPERED TO ASSIST THE RAILWAYS TO PAY UNLESS THE RAILWAYS ARE CONDUCTED ON THE SAME BASIS OF EMPLOYMENT AS OTHER CITIZENS EMPLOYED IN THE TRANSPORT OF GOODS. EITHER TRANSPORT OF GOODS AND PASSENGERS BY ROAD SHOULD BE GRANTED A SUPERANNUATION FUND ON THE SAME BASIS AS THE RAILWAY EMPLOYEES, AND FREE PASSES GRANTED IN THE SAME WAY OR ELSE IN COMPARING THE TWO SERVICES ALLOWANCE SHOULD BE MADE FOR THESE EXTRA EXPENSES BEFORE ASSERTING THAT THE RAILWAYS DO NOT PAY IN COMPETITION WITH ROAD TRANSPORT.
11. THAT ROAD TRANSPORT IS FINANCED WITH LOCAL CAPITAL IN COMPUTING THE COST OF RUNNING THE RAILWAYS IN COMPARISON WITH ROAD TRANSPORT THE CHARGE FOR EXCHANGE MONIES PAID OVERSEAS BY THE RAILWAYS SHOULD NOT BE CHARGED UP IN THE ESTIMATE OF THE COSTS OF RUNNING THE RAILWAYS IN COMPETITION WITH ROAD TRANSPORT. IT IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE MOTOR TRANSPORT OR BUS USER THAT THE CAPITAL COST OF THE RAILWAYS HAS BEEN UNWISELY BORROWED OVERSEAS INSTEAD OF LOCALLY.
12. SIMILARLY IN CALCULATING THE COST OF RUNNING THE RAILWAYS, LOSSES ON OTHER ENTERPRISES CONDUCTED BY THE RAILWAYS SUCH AS THE STATE COAL MINE AT WONTHAGGI OR THE BUFFALO CHALET SHOULD NOT BE COMPUTED AS PART OF THE COST OF TRANSPORT IN ANY COMPARISON WITH ROAD TRANSPORT.
13. IT IS ASSERTED THAT THE RAILWAYS, ACCORDING TO STATEMENTS MADE BY MR. CLAPP, ARE VERY CONSIDERABLY OVER-MANNED. IT IS CLAIMED THAT ANY EXCESS OF LABOUR ON THE RAILWAYS FOR POLITICAL REASONS OR OTHERWISE OVER AND ABOVE THE NECESSARY AMOUNT REQUIRED FOR THE EFFICIENT WORKING OF THE RAILWAYS SHOULD BE PROPERLY CALCULATED AND ALLOWED FOR IN THE ESTIMATE OF RAILWAY EXPENDITURE RIGHTLY AND SET AGAINST THE COST OF ROAD TRANSPORT IN COMPETITION WITH IT.
14. THE RAILWAYS BUS SERVICES FROM FERNTREE GULLY TO BELGRAVE, MONBULK AND EMERALD ARE RUN AT A LOSS WHICH OVER A PERIOD OF THIS SERVICE IS ESTIMATED TO EXCEED 1000 PER ANNUM. THE THREE TRANSPORT CONCERNS ABOVE MENTIONED ARE PREPARED TO TAKE OVER THESE SERVICES AND RUN THEM SAVING THE STATE THE LOSS OF RUNNING THESE SERVICES.
15. THESE SERVICES ARE PREPARED TO SUBMIT TIMETABLES EITHER IN CONJUNCTION OR INDIVIDUALLY TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE TRANSPORT REGULATION BOARD FOR THE EFFICIENT HANDLING OF PASSENGER TRAFFIC TO AND FROM MELBOURNE AND THE DANDENONG RANGES.
16 THE PROPRIETORS CONTEND THAT THE FACT THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO CHARGE FARES IN EXCESS OF RAILWAY FARES (ARISING FROM THE RESTRICTION AGAINST THEM BY THE VICTORIAN RAILWAYS OF A MAXIMUM SEATING CAPACITY OF FIVE PASSENGERS) DEFINITELY CONFIRMS THE PREFERENCE OF THE PUBLIC FOR MOTOR TRANSPORT TO THE MOUNTAINS AS AGAINST RAIL TRANSPORT.
17. SOME RESIDENTS OF THE MOUNTAIN WOULD SELL OUT AND RETURN TO THE CITY TO LIVE IN THE EVENT OF BEING DEPRIVED OF THE CONVENIENCE OF BUS SERVICES AND HAVE OPENLY EXPRESSED THIS INTENTION.
18. THE PROPRIETORS OF GUEST HOUSES AND BOARDING HOUSES IN THE MOUNTAINS HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF MANY OF THEIR CLIENTS THAT THEY WOULD NOT PATRONISE THE MOUNTAINS EITHER AT ALL OR TO A CONSIDERABLE LESS EXTENT IF COMPELLED TO FORGO THE CONVENIENCE OF MOTOR TRANSPORT. THE PROPRIETORS OF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS ARE VERY FEARFUL OF GRAVE FINANCIAL LOSSES OR EMBARRASSMENT IF THE MOTOR SERVICES ARE WITHDRAWN.
19. IF THE MOTOR SERVICES ARE WITHDRAWN IT IS PROBABLE THAT ONLY THE SMALLER BOARDING HOUSES WOULD BE DEPRIVED OF THE CONVENIENCE NOW PROVIDED BY THE BUS SERVICES AS LARGER ESTABLISHMENTS WOULD BE COMPELLED IN SELF-PRESERVATION TO PROVIDE MOTOR TRANSPORT FOR THEMSELVES. AT LEAST TWO HAVE EXPRESSED A DEFINITE INTENTION TO US THAT THEY WOULD DO SO. THIS WOULD RESULT IN THE MOTOR BUS SERVICES BEING STOPPED BUT NO COMMENSURATE BENEFIT TO THE RAILWAYS WILL BE ACHIEVED.
20. THE LOSS OF CONFIDENCE IN THE PUBLIC THAT IF THEY ESTABLISH AN INDUSTRY (SUCH AS MOTOR TRANSPORT) SUCCESSFULLY THEY WILL BE DEPRIVED OF THE BENEFITS OF THEIR INDUSTRY AND INVESTMENT OF THEIR CAPITAL BY THE GOVERNMENT TO BOLSTER UP THE INTERESTS OF THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE AND OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AS REGARDS CONTINUOS EMPLOYMENT IS OF MUCH GREATER VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY THAN ANY FINANCIAL SUCCESS OF THE RAILWAYS.
21. THE LOSS OF TIME AND IN CONSEQUENCE PRODUCTIVE POWER OF THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED IN THE USE OF THE RAILWAYS AS A SLOWER MEANS OF TRANSPORT WOULD BE GREATER THAN ANY COMMENSURATE BENEFIT TO THE RAILWAYS IN COMPELLING A LIMITED NUMBER OF CITIZENS TO USE THEM AGAINST THEIR WILL.
22. THAT UNLESS THE RAILWAY DEPARTMENT GIVES EMPLOYMENT OF A PERMANENT NATURE TO THE EMPLOYEES OF THE MOTOR TRANSPORT TO THE MOUNTAIN PUT OUT OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE RAILWAYS THAT A GRAVE INJUSTICE WILL BE DONE TO THESE EMPLOYEES WHO MAY BECOME A CHARGE TOGETHER WITH THEIR WIVES AND FAMILIES ON THE STATE FOR MAINTENANCE.
23. THAT MANY VISITORS TO THE HILLS ARE MOTHERS WITH CHILDREN, OR INVALIDS. CHANGING FROM ONE FORM OF TRANSPORT TO ANOTHER IN SUCH CASES IS EXTREMELY IRKSOME AND WOULD PROBABLY RESULT IN THESE FOLK NOT TRAVELLING AT ALL.
24. THE EXPENSE OF BROKEN TRANSPORT INVOLVES THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC IN EXCESSIVE EXPENSE. SOME MEANS OF TRANSPORT, PROBABLY A TAXI, IS NECESSARY TO TAKE THE FAMILY TO FLINDERS STREET STATION. AT THE STATION FURTHER EXPENSE WOULD PROBABLY BE INCURRED TO A PORTER TO TAKE THE LUGGAGE TO THE TRAIN, WHILST THE MOTHER ATTENDED TO THE CHILDREN. SIMILAR EXPENSES WOULD BE INCURRED AT UPPER FERNTREE GULLY BY TRANSFER OVER TO THE RAILWAY BUS OR TO THE NARROW GAUGE LINE AND WHEN THEY GET TO THEIR DESTINATION BY THIS MEANS A FURTHER CONVEYANCE WOULD HAVE TO BE OBTAINED TO DELIVER THEM TO THEIR HOMES. AT LEAST THREE FARES WOULD BE INVOLVED INSTEAD OF ONE, APART ALTOGETHER THE QUESTION OF INCONVENIENCE, DELAY AND PROBABLE DANGER TO THE HEALTH OF THE MOTHER AND THE CHILDREN IN THE EVENT OF WET WEATHER, THIS IS AGGRAVATED IN THE CASE OF INVALIDS OR OLD PEOPLE.
25. THE MOTOR BUS TRANSPORT IS ONLY A SMALL PORTION OF THE PASSENGER TRANSPORT TO THE MOUNTAINS, THE BULK TRAVELLING IN PRIVATE CARS. IT IS UNFAIR TO DEPRIVE ONE SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY OF THE BENEFITS OF VISITING THE MOUNTAINS OR RESIDING THERE WITHOUT APPLYING EQUALLY TO ALL CITIZENS OF THE COMMUNITY.
26. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THESE COMPANIES TO SUBMIT DEFINITE TIMETABLES BECAUSE IT IS NOT KNOWN TO THEM AT THE PRESENT STAGE ON WHAT BASIS THESE TIMETABLES ARE TO BE COMPUTED. THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE MATTERS, WHICH HAVE TO BE SETTLED TO ENABLE THIS TO BE DONE.
1. (a) WHETHER THE NARROW GAUGE LINE FROM UPPER FERNTREE GULLY TO GEMBROOK IS TO BE CLOSED.
(b) WHETHER THIS LINE IS TO BE LEASED TO PRIVATE ENTERPRISE AND IF SO ON WHAT TERMS.
2. WHETHER THE SPUR LINE FROM RINGWOOD TO FERNTREE GULLY IS TO BE RETAINED OR CLOSED.
3. WHAT TIMETABLES THE RAILWAY DEPARTMENT INTENDS TO RUN ON THESE LINES.
4. WHETHER THE RAILWAY DEPARTMENT IS TO CONTINUE THE PRESENT BUS SERVICES FROM UPPER FERNTREE GULLY TO BELGRAVE, MONBULK
AND EMERALD AND TO SOME EXTENT COCKATOO OR WHETHER IT IS TO BE INCLUDE IN THE SERVICES RUN BY THE PRIVATE CONTRACTORS.
5. TO WHAT EXTENT THE TRAFFIC IS TO BE RESTRICTED TO FEED THE RAILWAY AT THE RAIL HEAD AT FERNTREE GULLY OR RINGWOOD OR
WHETHER IT IS INTENDED AND TO WHAT EXTENT TO RUN A THROUGH SERVICE.
6. THE SEATING CAPACITY OF THE BUSES TO BE ALLOWED TO RUN ON THE DIFFERENT ROADS, FOR EXAMPLE, IT IS POSSIBLE TO RUN MUCH
LARGER BUSES WITHOUT ANY ALTERATION TO THE ROADS TO EMERALD THAN IT IS FROM EMERALD ONWARDS TOWARDS GEMBROOK. IN
OTHER LOCALITIES CONSIDERATIONS OF THIS TYPE ARE ALSO INVOLVED, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ROAD TO SHERBROOK WILL NOT CARRY EQUALLY
HEAVY TRAFFIC AS THE ROAD TO SASSAFRAS AND OLINDA AND THE ROAD TO MOUNT DANDENONG.
7. WHETHER THE PRIVATE CONTRACTORS ARE TO CARRY PASSENGERS WHO NOW ENJOY CONCESSION FARES ON THE RAILWAYS SUCH AS
SCHOOL CHILDREN.
IT WOULD APPEAR PROBABLE THAT A TIMETABLE TO THE BEST ADVANTAGE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISTRICT AND THE CONVENIENCE OF ITS INHABITANTS AND VISITORS TO THE MOUNTAINS COULD ONLY BE DONE BY CONFERENCE BETWEEN TRAFFIC OFFICERS OF THE RAILWAYS DEPARTMENT AND THE TRAFFIC MANAGERS OF THE BUS COMPANIES, PRESIDE OVER BY EITHER THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TRANSPORT REGULATION BOARD OR HIS NOMINEE, WITH THE POWER TO THE TRANSPORT REGULATION BOARD SUBSEQUENTLY TO AMEND SUCH TIMETABLE.
27. IT IS DEEMED IMPOSSIBLE BY THE THREE COMPANIES ABOVE MENTIONED TO SUBMIT SCHEDULES OF FARES UNTIL THE ABOVE MATTERS ARE SETTLED.
28. THE COMPANIES CONTEND THAT THE SERVICES NOW EXISTING WITH THEIR PRESENT TIMETABLES AND FARES SHOULD BE LICENSED TO CONTINUE FOR A LIMITED PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS, TO ENABLE THESE SCHEDULES TO BE DRAFTED AND SUBMITTED TO THE TRANSPORT REGULATION BOARD FOR THEIR APPROVAL.
MESSRS. GREEN AND DELANEY PTY LTD. AND THEIR PREDECESSORS HAVE BEEN OPERATING A SERVICE FROM MELBOURNE TO BELGRAVE, KALLISTA, THE PATCH, SILVAN AND SHERBROOKE FOR 14 YEARS. THEY HAVE A FLEET OF SIX CARS, AND STATE THEY HAVE APPROXIMATELY 3000 POUNDS CAPITAL INVESTED IN THE BUSINESS, APART FROM THE DWELLINGS AND HOMES OF MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY AND EMPLOYEES IN THE BUSINESS.
J. KOLLOSCHE, TRADING AS U. S. MOTORS AND HIS PREDECESSORS IN TITLE HAVE BEEN OPERATING A SERVICE BETWEEN MELBOURNE,BELGRAVE,EMERALD AND GEMBROOK FOR THE LAST 19 YEARS. THEY HAVE A FLEET OF TWELVE BUSES AND HAVE A CAPITAL OF 5600 POUNDS INVOLVED IN THE BUSINESS. THEY HAVE TWELVE EMPLOYEES.
TUTT AND STORRIE PTY. LTD. AND THEIR PREDECESSORS IN BUSINESS HAVE BEEN OPERATING A SERVICE FROM MELBOURNE TO SASSAFRAS AND OLINDA FOR 21 YEARS. THEY HAVE A FLEET OF NINE CARS AND HAVE A CAPITAL OF 4000 POUNDS IN THE BUSINESS. AND IN ADDITION THERE ARE THE HOMES OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR EMPLOYEES AT SASSAFRAS DEPENDANT ON THE CONTINUED SERVICE OF THE BUSES. THEY EMPLOY EIGHT REGULAR EMPLOYEES IN WINTER AND TEN IN SUMMER.
PRIOR TO THE LIMITATION TO FIVE PASSENGER BUSES THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS CARRIED TO THE MOUNTAINS FROM MELBOURNE WERE APPROXIMATELY DOUBLE THE PRESENT TOTAL. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF THE FIVE-PASSENGER BUSES THERE WAS AN ENORMOUS FALLING OFF IN PASSENGERS TRAVELLING, BUT IN RECENT TIMES IT HAS BEEN GROWING AND CONTINUES TO GROW. THE NUMBER OF PERSONS VISITING THE MOUNTAINS BY PRIVATE CAR HAS KEPT ON CONTINUOUSLY INCREASING. IT IS BELIEVED BY THE BUS COMPANIES THAT THE RAIL TRANSPORT HAS FALLEN OFF IN COMMON WITH THE BUS SERVICES, THE REASON OF THIS BEING THE RESTRICTION TO FIVE-PASSENGER BUSES INCREASING THE FARES TO THE MOUNTAIN. THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC NOW TRAVEL IN PRIVATE CARS TO THE DETRIMENT OF BOTH THE RAILWAYS AND THE BUS SERVICES.
ANOTHER MATTER WHICH MUST BE DETRIMENTAL IN THE CO-ORDINATION OF THE SERVICES IS THE QUESTION TO WHAT EXTENT, IF ANY, THE BUS COMPANIES ARE TO CARRY AND DISTRIBUTE PARCELS EITHER DIRECT FROM THE CITY OR FROM THE RAILHEAD AT FERNTREE GULLY AND WHETHER VOLUNTARILY OR COMPULSORY.
ANOTHER MATTER WHICH WILL HAVE TO BE DETERMINED BEFORE ANY FINALITY CAN BE REACHED WILL BE THE QUESTION AS TO WHETHER THE BUS COMPANIES WILL EITHER VOLUNTARILY OR COMPULSORILY EXTEND THEIR SERVICES TO THE CARRIAGE OF FREIGHT OR WHETHER THE FREIGHT SERVICES WILL BE ALLOWED CONTINUE AS AT PRESENT WITHOUT THE ISSUE OF LICENCES AT ALL, BY REASON OF BEING WITHIN 25 MILES RADIUS OF THE CITY.
29. AT PRESENT THE TRANSPORT OF PARCELS AND GOODS FROM THE CITY TO THE MOUNTAIN OR VICE VERSA CAUSES VERY GREAT ANNOYANCE BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAIN TIME AND METHOD OF DELIVERY.SOME SHOP-KEEPERS CONTEND THAT THEY CANNOT SAFELY GUARANTEE THE DELIVERY OF GOODS BY THE RAILWAY TO BELGRAVE WITHIN ONE WEEK OF THE ORDER BEING PLACED.
ON THE OTHER HAND BY ROAD, DELIVERY CAN BE GUARANTEED WITHIN LESS HOURS THAN THEY CAN BE GUARANTEED BY THE RAILWAYS IN DAYS.
CO-ORDINATING OF TRANSPORT IN THIS REGARD BETWEEN THE RAILWAYS AND ROAD TRANSPORT IS URGENTLY NECESSARY.
30. A BUS SERVICE FOR PASSENGERS RUNNING BETWEEN SASSAFRAS AND OLINDA AND MELBOURNE IS OWNED AND OPERATED BY MR. PATTERSON. I AM INSTRUCTED HE OPERATES 2 BUSES.
HE HAS BEEN INVITED TO JOIN IN THE PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF A JOINT CASE ON BEHALF OF ALL THE BUS SERVICES, BUT HE HAS DECLINED TO DO SO, STATING THAT HE PROPOSES TO PRESENT HIS OWN CASE.
31. THE BUS SERVICE CITY - CROYDON AND MOUNT DANDENONG OPERATED MR. JEEVES IS READY AND ANXIOUS TO JOIN IN THIS CASE BELIEVING THAT THE WHOLE OF THE MOUNTAIN SERVICES SHOULD BE CO-ORDINATED AND OPERATED AS A WHOLE. HIS SERVICE IS OMITTED FROM THIS CASE BECAUSE IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE TRANSPORT REGULATION BORD SEEKS THAT IT SHOULD BE PRESENTED SEPARATELY. THE RESIDENTS OF THE MOUNTAIN HOLD THE VIEW THAT ALL THE SERVICES BY WHATEVER ROUTE SHOULD BE DEALT WITH IN THE ONE APPLICATION AS HAVING REASONABLY SIMILAR INTERESTS.
32. THE OPERATING COMPANIES ARE PREPARED TO CONDUCT ALL THE MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT SERVICES FOR THE BEST DEVELOPMENT OF THE MOUNTAINS AND THE BEST INTERESTS BOTH OF THE RESIDENTS THERE AND THE VISITORS TO THE MOUNTAIN. THEY ARE PREPARED TO DO THIS EITHER IN CONJUNCTION AS SEPARATE ENTITIES OR TO CONSIDER AMALGAMATION INTO ONE COMPANY FOR THIS PURPOSE IF SO DESIRED BY THE BOARD.
THEY ARE READY AND DESIROUS TO COLLABORATE WITH THE BOARD TO DRAW UP THE NECESSARY TIMETABLES AND SCHEDULES OF FARES AND THE LAY OUT OF THE VARIOUS SERVICES AS REGARDS ROUTES AND PICKING-UP PLACES TO BEST ACHIEVE THESE OBJECTIVES.