Kefford Corporation

Last updated

Kefford Corporation
Foundedearly 1850s
Ceased operation23 February 2009
Service area Melbourne
Ballarat
Geelong
Service typeTruck, bus & coach operator
Depots Altona
Ballarat
Geelong
Oakleigh
Sunshine
Werribee
Website www.kefford.com.au

The Kefford Corporation was a transport company which operated in Victoria from the early 1850s until February 2009, when it was acquired by ComfortDelGro Cabcharge. [1]

Contents

History

The Kefford Corporation was started in the early 1850s when Richard Papworth Kefford began operating horse-drawn lorries in Collingwood. The business later began operating trucks but sold that side of its business in 1976. [2]

Westrans

In January 1976, Kefford Corporation became a public transport operator, with the purchase of Point Cook - Werribee Passenger Service, Werribee.

In July 1987, Bono Bus Lines, Maidstone was purchased with route 406 Footscray – Keilor East and operated from a new depot in Footscray. [3] As of 2021, the Bono family continues to operate Firefly Express in Maidstone.

In January 1988, Kefford Corporation purchased the Sitch Group and its subsidiaries: [4] [5]

In May 1991, St Kilda Bus Service was purchased with route 606 Port Melbourne - St Kilda and rebranded Werribee Bus Lines. [6]

The Point Cook - Werribee, Bono, Sitch and Weribee operations were rebranded as Westrans in Westrans.

Eastrans

In January 1988 Kefford Corporation also purchased routes 605 Melbourne City Centre − Elsternwick and 630 Elwood − Monash University from Sinclair's Bus Service. [5] The operation was rebranded as Eastrans in the 1990s.

Ballarat

In December 1981, Davis Motor Service in Ballarat was purchased. [7]

Geelong

In March 1999, Benders Buslines in Geelong was purchased. [8] [9]

Purchased by ComfortDelGro Cabcharge

In November 2008, ComfortDelGro Cabcharge (CDC) announced the acquisition of Kefford Corporation for A$149 million. [1] At the time Kefford was the fourth-largest bus operator in Victoria, with a fleet of 328 buses and six depots, and with a 16% market share. The acquisition was finalised on 23 February 2009. [10] All Kefford Corporation brands were retained by CDC until 2014.

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References

  1. 1 2 Smith, Chris (20 December 2008). "Kefford Group Finds a Buyer". Australasian Bus and Coach. Bauer Trader Media. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  2. ↑ Kefford Corporation Archived 10 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine Tiltaway
  3. ↑ "Victorian Buses in the Eighties". Australian Bus Panorama (6/8): 14. May 1991.
  4. ↑ Melbourne Metropolitan Bus Operators and Fleet Listings. Melbourne: Bus & Coach Society of Victoria. 1991. pp. 31–34.
  5. 1 2 "Victorian Buses in the Eighties". Australian Bus Panorama (7/1): 3. August 1991.
  6. ↑ "Kefford Group Fleets". Australian Bus Panorama (7/1): 35. August 1991.
  7. ↑ "Victorian Buses in the Eighties" Australian Bus Panorama 6/1 July 1990 page 13
  8. ↑ Major bus buys for Kefford & Hill Archived 14 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Australasian Bus & Coach
  9. ↑ "Kefford Expands" Australian Bus Panorama 15/4 February 2000 page 22
  10. ↑ "ComfortDelGro Cabcharge Victoria". Archived from the original on 6 October 2010.
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