Greyhound Australia's History

Greyhound Australia has been operating for over 100 years and is today the leading coach company in Australia. From servicing just one town in the beginning, Greyhound Australia's network now covers the entire Australian continent, employs around 500 people, and services more than 1.3 million passengers every year.

Pioneer Tours - 1905

The A.A. Withers Bus Company started in Victoria in 1905, by introducing day tours around Melbourne. It was this Company that opened the virtually unknown route to the Australian Alps to coach tourists.

The name changed to Pioneer in 1923. In 1927, Pioneer took a transcontinental trip from Melbourne to Darwin - and just seven years later took a group of "pioneering" tourist’s right around Australia.

Pioneer, in conjunction with the Shell Company, undertook a survey of the route from Adelaide to Perth - a distance of over 3,200 Kilometres - in 1957. As a result of this survey Pioneer become the first coach company to run weekly trips across the country.

Greyhound - 1928

In 1928, Mr A.R. Penfold began a passenger service between Toowoomba and Brisbane in response to a rail strike, which had halted most transport out of the town. His Bullnose Whippet car sported a Greyhound radiator cap, which has since become the most recognised symbol for coach travel in Australia.

This use of the Greyhound image pre-dates the American usage, so we can say that the Greyhound Bus started in Toowoomba!

Greyhound commenced interstate services in the late 1960’s.

During this time the company acquired coaches with luxuries such as air-conditioning and on-board toilets, offering passengers the fast and comfortable long distance coach travel we enjoy today.

McCaffertys - 1940

Jack McCafferty started on April Fool’s Day in 1940 with one coach operating a route from Picnic Point to Rangeville in Toowoomba.

The first interstate tours began in 1950 under the name ‘Highway Holidays’. He participated in the Redex Trials in 1953/4/5 and saw the potential for extended touring to remote Australia. Scheduled interstate services began in the 1960’s

Ansett Pioneer - 1945

In 1945 Pioneer was purchased by Reg (later Sir Reginald) Ansett. Reg Ansett had founded Ansett Airways in 1935, and he also saw the potential in land-based tourism and transport to complement his airline operations. Reg Ansett continued with the touring programme and expanded the intrastate and interstate routes.

The Ansett name had been dropped by the late 1980’s, and ‘Pioneer’ was again the operating brand.

The original Whippet car used by Penfold in 1928 is still in mint condition and registered for road use.

Bus Australia - 1985

Bus Australia started in Western Australian in 1985. After a merger with several other companies, Bus Australia had become a national operator by the early 1990’s. In 1993 the owning company - Bowra Holdings Ltd - merged with Australian Coachlines.

Greyhound Pioneer Australia - 1993

Greyhound Pioneer Australia emerged in 1993 when Australian Coachlines Pty Ltd, which had brought Greyhound and Pioneer together the previous year, merged with Bus Australia. All 3 brands operated in competition with each other, each focussing on a different market segment.

McCaffertys Greyhound Pty Ltd - 2000

McCaffertys purchased Greyhound Pioneer Australia in 2000 forming the only National coach operator in the country. The McCafferty Family sold their interest in the business to the ANZ Bank and the Chapman Group of Cairns in 2003.This rebranding creates a single entity from which to grow services, frequency and routes on a national basis.

Greyhound Australia Pty Ltd - 2004

The group changed its name to "Greyhound Australia Pty Ltd" in 2004 to capitalise on the strong Australia-wide and international recognition of the iconic Greyhound name and logo.