Sunday July 2nd 1961, MMTB commences bus operations in the Doncaster,
Templestowe, Warrandyte area after taking over the bus depots and operations and
buses of A.P.Withers.
Services were operated with the former operators buses supplemented with MMTB,
Leyland OPS 1's and AEC Regal Mk 3 half cab buses.
December 31 1967, MMTB took over the operations and buses of Rouch and Kennedy
in Ringwood.
June 9 1969, Former Rouch and Kennedy bus routes incorporated with other MMTB
Doncaster bus routes.
June 23 1985, MTA takes over MBBL and all the buses.
By mid 1990's, had taken over a Sita Route in Sunshine South, and PTC sent 219
to Sunshine South to cover this ex Sita route.
1905, Victorian Government start running bus under the Vicrail division/name
3 January 1925, Victorian Government start running bus under the MMTB
division/name
The first MMTB bus service run from Melbourne Public Library in Latrobe Street
City and run along Swanstown Street, St. Kilda Road, Brighton Road, and
Glenhuntly Road
To the Elsternwick Railway Station.
July 1 1983, MTA is formed, replaces the MMTB.
July 1 1989, MTA replaced by PTC. (Buses still branded as MTA/MET)
December 28 1993, National Bus Company takes over North Fitzroy and Doncaster
depots.
PTC remaining bus division becomes MET BUS.
Sandringham depot becomes a satellite depot to Footscray and Elwood depot
closes.
Gardenvale - City Route amalgamated with Sunshine - City via Ballarat Road Route
Middle Brighton Beach - City Route amalgamated with Deer Park West/Sunshine Park
- City via Dynon Road Route
The 901 Vicrail service, now became a Met Bus service like all other Vic
Government bus services from 1993 - 1998, and was renumbered and incorporated
into route 600
13 April 1998, Met Bus was sold ,and became Melbourne Bus Link ,owned by a
partnership formed between Dysons and Reservoir Bus Company.
Bringing to a close the operation of government bus services in Victoria.
January 18 1954, the last run of a Double Decker bringing to an end the
operation of double decker buses in service with the MMTB.
Clifton Hill depot was closed as a running depot by 1960, and since then as been
mostly used as a storage depot, till it was sold off in 1996.
June 8 1965, MMTB's Doncaster depot opens.
July 30 1966, Port Melbourne depot closed all services and buses transferred to
North Fitzroy.
February 3 1975, New Leyland National buses commence operating from Doncaster
Depot.
May 30 1977, New Volvo B59 buses commence operating from Nth Fitzroy.
1979, First of the MAN SL200 Ansair buses enter service. The MAN SL200 Ansairs
would continue to enter service over 1980-1983 until a total of160 buses had
entered service.
June 1980, Last AEC MK 3 bus operates in service on the Garden City route after
29years of AEC MK 3's (December 4 / 1951 till June 1980).
September 8, 1986, first Volvo Artic buses commence running at Doncaster depot.
June 1988, MAN MK2's enter service at Doncaster depot.
Elwood was closed as a running depot by end of 1993, and since then as been
mostly used as a storage depot, till it was sold off in 1996.
Others places used as storage yards are listed below.
Brunswick tram depot had a fenced in area beside the tram shed in the open yard
car park where the buses were stored.
Coburg tram depot.
Buses have also have been stored at Doncaster, Footscray, Sandringham and North
Fitzroy in small numbers at times.
From about 1976 MTA leased 20 Leylands from the government buses in Sydney, to
help cover the shortage of buses at the time, all were withdrawn and sold off by
MTA by 1988..
November 23 1953, stop work and dispute over one manning of 41 seater buses
on the Clifton Hill route. This dispute would go on until December 1954 with
numerous disruptions to services, until being resolved in favour of operation of
31 seater one man buses only. Any bus with more than 31 seats requiring a
conductor or two man crew.
This dispute of 2 man operation of buses with over 32 seats ended with the
arrival of the M.A.N SL200/Ansair "MK1"
November 20 1978, New bus service operated from City to Altona North (Grieves
Parade) via Westgate Bridge and Freeway.
This service was operated by Footscray depot, with new Volvo B59's fleet numbers
944-949 on loan from North Fitzroy.
Note.
The Westgate Bridge collapse and later than planned opening delayed the starting
up of this new route. Footscray drivers were trained on the Altona North section
and the City section of the route as the Westgate Bridge was not finished due to
earlier collapse.
It was also written into a union agreement that if a bus driver did not want to
operate on this route the driver could refuse without action or penalty due to
bridge collapse.
November 2 1986, End of two man operated buses on the Bulleen to Garden City bus
route, All buses services now one man operated.
The MMTB Heritage Fleet was sold off between 1996 and 1998.
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