Moonee Valley Coaches
 | |
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| Parent | Higginson family |
|---|---|
| Commenced operation | 1964 |
| Headquarters | Tullamarine |
| Service area | North Melbourne |
| Service type | Bus & coach operator |
| Routes | 2 |
| Fleet | 37 (February 2024) |
| Website | www.mooneevalleybus.com.au |
Moonee Valley Coaches is a bus and coach charter operator in Melbourne, Australia. Until March 2024 it operated two route services under contract to Public Transport Victoria.
History
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In 1964 Ray Higginson bought a bus serving Dawson Street, Brunswick. By 1966, the business was named Moonee Valley Bus Lines, and in 1969, a partnership with Joe Bellafiori was formed.
Charter services commenced in 1968, expanding to Australia wide touring and camping tours in 1970 when the first new dedicated charter coach was bought. The early 1970s saw more expansion with the purchase of Nuline Bus Service, Caulfield. In 1985, the partnership was dissolved with Bellafiori taking Nuline Bus Service and Higginson Moonee Valley. In 1987, Cunningham Bus Lines was purchased with route 503 Essendon station to Brunswick East.[1][2]
In November 2014, a heritage museum was established within the company's Tullamarine depot.[3]
Two route services, 503 Essendon station to Brunswick East and 506 Moonee Ponds Junction to Westgarth. were operated under contract to Public Transport Victoria until sold to Dysons with 11 vehicles on 1 March 2024.[4][5]
Fleet
[edit]As at February 2024, the fleet consisted of 37 buses and coaches.[6] Fleet livery is white with red stripes and blue signwriting while some new route buses carry the Public Transport Victoria orange and white livery.
References
[edit]- ^ Victorian Buses in the Eighties Australian Bus Panorama issue 6/8 May 1991 page 14
- ^ Melbourne Metropolitan Bus Operators and Fleet Listings. Melbourne: Bus & Coach Society of Victoria. 1991. p. 40.
- ^ Preservation at Moonee Valley Coaches Australian Bus issue 67 January 2015 pages 34-35
- ^ Route Service Moonee Valley Coaches
- ^ Dysons announces acquisition of Moonee Valley route services Australasian Bus & Coach 1 March 2024
- ^ Moonee Valley Coaches Australian Bus Fleet Lists
External links
[edit]
Media related to Moonee Valley Coaches at Wikimedia Commons- Company website
