Buslines Group
An Australian bus operating group serving regional and metropolitan communities across New South Wales.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Buslines Group is an Australian private bus-operating group based in New South Wales. It operates scheduled public bus services and related regional passenger transport businesses under a network of local Buslines identities, including Ballina Buslines, Northern Rivers Buslines, Bathurst Buslines, Berrima Buslines, Dubbo Buslines, Forster Buslines, Griffith Buslines, Lithgow Buslines, Orange Buslines, Tamworth Buslines, Ulladulla Buslines and Wingham Buslines. The group has also retained the Rover Coaches name following its acquisition of Rover Coaches in December 2022. The business traces its institutional history to John A. Gilbert, who founded the John A. Gilbert Group in March 1926 as Reo Motors. The original enterprise began as a motor dealership before diversifying into bus operations in 1941. Its early transport activities expanded from Parkes to Bathurst, Dubbo, Goulburn, Mittagong, Orange and Tamworth, as well as several Sydney suburban operations. Over time, the group sold or reshaped many of these businesses, leaving a regional New South Wales operating base. John A. Gilbert remained a listed company on the Sydney Stock Exchange between 1954 and 1982. The group expanded through acquisitions during the late twentieth century. In 1988 it purchased the Lismore-based Kirklands Omnibus Services business, bringing the fleet to approximately 250 vehicles according to the cited historical account. It acquired Sydney operator Shorelink in 1992, although Shorelink was later sold to Transdev in 2001. In March 1996, John A. Gilbert sold its remaining bus operations to Frank D'Apuzzo and Peter Simpson. Subsequent purchases included Picton Omnibus Service in 2000, Ritchies Bus Service in Griffith in 2006, Perrett's Coach Service in Werris Creek in 2008, Selwood Coaches in Orange in 2009, Jones Brothers operations in Lithgow and Bathurst in 2012, Forster Bus Service and Wingham Coaches in 2015, Ulladulla Bus Lines in 2018, and Rover Coaches in 2022. The Buslines name began to be applied across the operating businesses from 2004. This created a recognizable group identity while preserving a degree of local operating branding. Acquired businesses were generally rebranded as Buslines operations or integrated into nearby depots. For example, Perrett's was incorporated into the Tamworth, Orange and Dubbo operations, while Selwood Coaches was integrated into the Orange, Tamworth and Dubbo network. Forster Bus Service and Wingham Coaches were rebranded as Forster Buslines and Wingham Buslines. Ulladulla Bus Lines became Ulladulla Buslines after its acquisition. Buslines' operations are concentrated in regional New South Wales, including the Northern Rivers, Central West, Southern Highlands, Mid-Western, New England, Hunter-adjacent and Mid North Coast areas, as well as the South Coast. The group provides local route services and has historically operated longer-distance coach routes. Its Northern Rivers history includes services linking Lismore, Ballina, Brisbane, Sydney and other regional destinations, although several long-distance operations were subsequently sold to Premier Motor Service. In 2019, Northern Rivers Buslines took over Wallers Buslines route 650 to Nimbin. The group's fleet was reported at 401 buses in October 2019. Its visual identity developed from the white-and-black livery used by the John A. Gilbert fleet until the mid-1980s, to a white livery with three blue stripes, and later to a simplified white-and-dark-blue design associated with Buslines Group. Buslines is described in the cited reference material as the third-largest private bus operator in New South Wales. Its current business is principally an operating platform for contracted and local bus services rather than a vehicle manufacturer or dealership, although its historical predecessor had substantial vehicle-distribution and car-dealership activities.
History
Buslines Group's roots lie in the John A. Gilbert Group, established by John A. Gilbert in March 1926 as Reo Motors. The original business was a motor dealership. In 1941 it entered bus operations, beginning in Parkes and later expanding into Bathurst, Dubbo, Goulburn, Mittagong, Orange and Tamworth. It also held suburban Sydney bus businesses in Bronte, Ramsgate and Matraville. Most of these early operations were sold over time; by 1980, Mittagong, Orange and Tamworth were among the principal businesses retained. The John A. Gilbert Group was listed on the Sydney Stock Exchange from 1954 until 1982. Its transport interests continued to develop through acquisitions. In November 1988, it purchased the Lismore-based Kirklands Omnibus Services business, increasing the fleet to about 250 vehicles. In October 1992 it acquired Shorelink, a Sydney bus operator. Shorelink was sold to Transdev in September 2001. In March 1996, John A. Gilbert sold its remaining bus operations to Frank D'Apuzzo and Peter Simpson. Under the new ownership, the group continued to grow through regional acquisitions. Picton Omnibus Service was acquired in March 2000. The Buslines name was progressively rolled out across the operating businesses from 2004, creating a unified identity for a collection of locally based bus companies. The acquisition program continued with Ritchies Bus Service of Griffith in 2006, Perrett's Coach Service of Werris Creek in 2008, Selwood Coaches of Orange in 2009, Jones Brothers operations in Lithgow and Bathurst in 2012, Forster Bus Service and Wingham Coaches in 2015, Ulladulla Bus Lines in 2018 and Rover Coaches in 2022. Several acquired companies were integrated with existing depots rather than maintained as separate brands. Perrett's, for example, was incorporated into the Tamworth, Orange and Dubbo operations. Forster and Wingham were rebranded as Buslines businesses, while Rover's name was retained. The Northern Rivers operations have a separate but connected history. Kirkland Bros began in 1939 when Clarrie and Jim Kirkland bought two bus runs in Evans Head. The business expanded through further purchases in the Northern Rivers. It acquired the New England Motor Company business in January 1970, by which time its fleet had reached 45 vehicles. A Ballina-to-Sydney service began in November 1974 and was later extended to Brisbane. The business changed ownership several times before Kirkland Bros was acquired by John A. Gilbert in 1988. Long-distance Brisbane-Sydney services were sold to Premier Motor Service in 1996, and Premier later acquired the Lismore-Brisbane service in 2008. During the 2000s, the Kirklands name was replaced by Ballina Buslines and Northern Rivers Buslines. Buslines' current operations are focused on regional New South Wales. Local businesses operate from depots serving communities in the Northern Rivers, Central West, Southern Highlands, Mid North Coast, New England and South Coast regions. In June 2019, Northern Rivers Buslines took over route 650 to Nimbin from Wallers Buslines. In September 2021, Picton Buslines ceased to be part of the group after its ownership moved to the Ferris family. The group reported a fleet of 401 buses in October 2019. Its livery evolved from the John A. Gilbert fleet's white-and-black scheme to a white background with three blue stripes, and later to a simpler white-and-dark-blue design. Peter Simpson, one of the owners following the 1996 transaction, died in May 2020. The group subsequently continued operating as a private bus business and expanded through the Rover Coaches acquisition in 2022.
- 2022
Rover Coaches acquired
[1]Buslines purchased Rover Coaches and retained the Rover operating name.
- 2019
Fleet recorded at 401 buses
[1]The reported fleet consisted of 401 buses in October 2019.
- 2018
Ulladulla Bus Lines acquired
[1]Ulladulla Bus Lines was acquired on 3 December and renamed Ulladulla Buslines.
- 2015
Forster and Wingham acquired
[1]Forster Bus Service and Wingham Coaches were acquired with 41 buses and rebranded under Buslines.
- 2012
Jones Brothers operations acquired
[1]The group purchased Jones Brothers businesses in Lithgow and Bathurst.
- 2006
Griffith operation acquired
[1]Ritchies Bus Service in Griffith was purchased and later rebranded Griffith Buslines.
- 2004
Buslines identity rolled out
[1]The Buslines brand began to be applied across the group's operating businesses.
- 2000
Picton Omnibus Service acquired
[1]The group purchased Picton Omnibus Service, acquiring 23 vehicles.
- 1996
Bus operations sold to new owners
[1]John A. Gilbert sold its remaining bus operations to Frank D'Apuzzo and Peter Simpson.
- 1988
Kirklands Omnibus Services acquired
[1]The Lismore-based Kirklands business was acquired, increasing the fleet to approximately 250 vehicles.
Products and positioning
A regional New South Wales bus operating group combining a common Buslines identity with locally rooted depot businesses and acquired transport operators.
Public transportation · 1941
Regional bus services
The group's principal offering is scheduled bus transportation for regional and local communities in New South Wales. Services are operated through geographically focused businesses such as Bathurst Buslines, Dubbo Buslines, Orange Buslines, Tamworth Buslines and Ulladulla Buslines. The businesses retain local depot identities while operating within the wider Buslines Group structure.
Regional public transportation · 1939
Northern Rivers bus operations
Ballina Buslines and Northern Rivers Buslines represent the group's Northern Rivers operations. Their history developed from Kirkland Bros services in the Evans Head, Ballina and Lismore areas. The businesses operate local routes and have also incorporated services such as route 650 to Nimbin.
Coach transportation · 1974
Regional coach services
Buslines and its predecessor businesses have operated longer-distance coach services in New South Wales and between New South Wales and Queensland. Several historical long-distance routes, including Brisbane-Sydney and Lismore-Brisbane services, were later sold to Premier Motor Service.
Coach and bus operations · 2022
Rover Coaches
Rover Coaches was acquired by Buslines in December 2022. Unlike several other acquired businesses, the Rover name was retained after the transaction, making it a continuing operating identity within the wider group.
Brand decisions
2022
Acquire Rover CoachesM&ABackground
Buslines continued its strategy of expanding through regional bus and coach acquisitions.
Action taken
The group purchased Rover Coaches in December 2022 and retained its existing name.
Aftermath
Rover Coaches became part of the group's current operating portfolio.
2021
Transfer ownership of Picton BuslinesM&ABackground
Picton Omnibus Service had been acquired by the group in 2000.
Action taken
The Picton business left the Buslines Group in September 2021 after ownership passed to the Ferris family.
Aftermath
The business continued independently as Picton Buslines, using the same name but a different logo.
2018
Acquire and rebrand Ulladulla Bus LinesM&ABackground
Ulladulla Bus Lines was an established South Coast bus business operating with 17 vehicles.
Action taken
Buslines acquired the business on 3 December 2018 and changed its name to Ulladulla Buslines.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded Buslines' South Coast operating footprint.
2004
Unify operating businesses under the Buslines brandStrategyBackground
The group had accumulated multiple regional bus and coach businesses with distinct local names.
Action taken
From 2004, it progressively rolled out the Buslines identity across its operations while continuing to organize services around local depots.
Aftermath
The group developed a common brand presence across regional New South Wales while retaining geographically specific names such as Ballina Buslines and Tamworth Buslines.
Recent events
- 2022
Buslines acquires Rover Coaches[1]
M&A
Buslines purchased Rover Coaches in December 2022 and retained the Rover name.
- 2021
Picton Buslines leaves the group[1]
M&A
Picton Buslines left the Buslines Group in September 2021 after ownership passed to the Ferris family. It continued operating independently under the same name with a different logo.
- 2020
Buslines co-owner Peter Simpson dies[1]
Leadership change
Co-owner Peter Simpson died in May 2020.
- 2019
Northern Rivers Buslines takes over Wallers route 650[1]
Other
The operator took over Wallers Buslines route 650 to Nimbin and incorporated the service into Northern Rivers Buslines.
- 2019
Buslines fleet reaches 401 vehicles[1]
Other
The group's fleet was reported as consisting of 401 buses in October 2019.
- 2018
Buslines acquires Ulladulla Bus Lines[1]
M&A
Buslines acquired Ulladulla Bus Lines on 3 December 2018 and subsequently changed the operating name to Ulladulla Buslines.
Sources1 sources
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