Harris Park Transport

File:Harris Park Transport Hino mo8822 and Mercedes 0405NH mo8390 September 2004.jpg and a Mercedes Benz O405NH, both Custom Coaches bodied with CityBus Direct liveries, at Parramatta, September 2004]]

Harris Park Transport operated buses under a variety of trading names including Carlingford Bus Service, AJ Moore and Sutherland Bus Service.[http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/nsw.php?search=HPT Harris Park Transport] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223051549/http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/nsw.php?search=HPT |date=23 February 2014 }} Australian Bus Fleet Lists By the late 1990s, all had been consolidated under the Harris Park Transport and AJ Moore brands.

Harris Park Transport was founded in 1931 when Jeff Moore entered a partnership with Harry Howell to operate route 165 from Northmead to Epping via Parramatta. In 1945, in partnership with GR Sinclair, Moore purchased route 82 Epping to Carlingford.{{cite book|title=New South Wales Bus Operators and Fleet Listings|year=1993|publisher=Historic Commercial Vehicle Association|location=Sydney|page=57}}

In 1945 Moore formed Parramatta - Epping Bus Service and purchased route 101 Parramatta to Pennant Hills. Route 82 was sold to Ritcher Bros in December 1947, it would be bought back in December 1973.

In 1952 Parramatta - Epping Bus Service commenced operating route 90 Epping to Carlingford that was later extended to Beecroft, North Rocks and Parramatta. In 1958 the business was renamed Harris Park Transport.

Further purchases were the business of Watson & Hume in May 1964, Nicholson Bros' route 191 Beecroft to Dural in July 1982 and East Parramatta Bus Lines' route 3 Parramatta - East Parramatta loop in February 1984. The latter was sold to North & Western Bus Lines in January 1994."Ownership changes" Fleetline issue 225 April 1994 page 76

In December 1981, Red Arrow route 590 commenced between Blacktown and Macquarie Centre as a joint operation between Westbus and Harris Park's Carlingford Bus Service subsidiary. The route was renumbered 630 in September 1987.

The Carlingford Bus Service brand didn't last long and was replaced by the Harris Park Transport name.

In June 1997 the other routes were reorganised and renumbered."Timetable & service changes" Fleetline issue 250 September 1997 page 164 At this point of time, routes in the Hills District that Harris Park Transport operated were:

• 623: Parramatta - North Rocks - Beecroft
• 624: Parramatta - Carlingford - Epping
• 625: Parramatta - Carlingford - Pennant Hills
• 626: Pennant Hills - Cherrybrook
• 627: Parramatta - Carlingford - Cherrybrook
• 628: Epping - North Carlingford
• 629: Epping - North Rocks
• 630: Blacktown - Macquarie Centre (jointly operated with Westbus)

In mid 2002, Harris Park Transport commenced operating services under the CityBus Direct brand via the M2:

• 620: Dural - Queen Victoria Building{{cite web|url=http://citybusdirect.com.au/routes.htm|title=Routes|website=CityBus Direct|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040306100802/http://citybusdirect.com.au/routes.htm|archive-date=6 March 2004|url-status=dead}}
• 621: North Parramatta - Queen Victoria Building{{cite web|url=http://www.citybusdirect.com.au/621/routes.htm|title=Route 621|website=CityBus Direct|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031125093424/http://www.citybusdirect.com.au/621/routes.htm|archive-date=25 November 2003|url-status=dead}}
• 622: Oatlands - Queen Victoria Building{{cite web|url=http://www.citybusdirect.com.au/622/routes.htm|title=Route 622|website=CityBus Direct|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030326145339/http://www.citybusdirect.com.au/622/routes.htm|archive-date=26 March 2003|url-status=dead}}

On 8 October 2004, routes 621 and 622 ceased, leaving route 620 as the only CityBus Direct route.[http://sydneybusroutes.com/images/PDFs/rtehist-reg-4-590-628.pdf Sydney Bus Region 4] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721051652/http://sydneybusroutes.com/images/PDFs/rtehist-reg-4-590-628.pdf |date=21 July 2019 }}, Retrieved 21 July 2019

Meanwhile, in December 1946, Moore's son Archie, trading as AJ Moore, purchased routes 74 and 106 from Hurstville to Kyle Bay and Connells Point. In March 1950, route 146 Mortdale station to West Oatley was purchased followed in October 1951 by route 116 Hurstville station to Oatley. Both operated under the Sandy Beach Bus Co name, which was named after a popular swimming spot in Oyster Bay.[http://www.sydneybusroutes.com/images/PDFs/rtehist%20126-150.pdf Sydney Bus Routes (1925) 126-150] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207034307/http://sydneybusroutes.com/images/PDFs/rtehist%20126-150.pdf |date=7 December 2022 }}, Retrieved 28 April 2014[https://connectonline.asic.gov.au/RegistrySearch/faces/landing/panelSearch.jspx?searchType=OrgAndBusNm&searchText=Sandy+Beach+Bus+Co+Pty+Ltd&searchTab=search&_adf.ctrl-state=1d5hupltt8_91 Sandy Beach Bus Co Pty Ltd] Australian Securities & Investments Commission In June 1957, route 116 was incorporated into route 146. In December 1987, route 146 was partly replaced by route 115, which was operated by Archie's son Trevor's Moore's Tours business.[http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/nsw.php?info=MOO Moore's Tours] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429080354/http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/nsw.php?info=MOO |date=29 April 2014 }} Australian Bus Fleet Lists"Moore to the Point" Australian Bus January 2015 pages 12-17

On 1 April 1996, routes 74 and 106 were combined to form route 74/106 Hurstville - Kyle Bay - Connells Point.[http://www.sydneybusroutes.com/images/PDFs/rtehist%2051-75.pdf Sydney Bus Routes (1925) 51-75] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519025104/http://www.sydneybusroutes.com/images/PDFs/rtehist%2051-75.pdf |date=19 May 2021 }}, Retrieved 28 April 2014

In May 1959, the business of Sutherland Bus Service was purchased with routes 100 Sutherland to Gymea Bay and 130 Sans Souci to Yowie Bay.[https://connectonline.asic.gov.au/RegistrySearch/faces/landing/panelSearch.jspx?searchText=Sutherland+Bus+Service+Pty+Ltd&searchType=OrgAndBusNm&searchTab=search&_adf.ctrl-state=1d5hupltt8_157 Sutherland Bus Service Pty Ltd] Australian Securities & Investments Commission In December 1990 these two routes were sold to Southtrans.[http://www.sydneybusroutes.com/images/PDFs/rtehist%2076-100.pdf Sydney Bus Routes (1925) 76-100] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519030752/http://www.sydneybusroutes.com/images/PDFs/rtehist%2076-100.pdf |date=19 May 2021 }}, Retrieved 28 April 2014

File:Torrens Transit (1322) XMH623 November 2024.jpg in Adelaide, November 2024]]

Harris Park Transport ceased operations after 21 December 2004, after giving the NSW Ministry of Transport notice of its intention not to renew its contracts, citing dissatisfaction with industry reforms being proposed.[https://web.archive.org/web/20050213113905/http://www.citybusdirect.com.au/important.htm Important News] City Bus Direct Retrieved 27 April 2014

As an interim measure, the Hills District services were taken over by Hillsbus.[https://web.archive.org/web/20041216024356/http://www.westbus.com.au/media/announce_list.asp?ID=79 Welcome to Hillsbus], Westbus, Published 15 December 2004, Retrieved 28 April 2014[https://web.archive.org/web/20051028144854/http://www.westbus.com.au/uploads/docs/Hillsbus%20Network%20Map.pdf Hillsbus December 2004 Pennant Hills & Carlingford Network Map], Hillsbus, Published December 2004, Retrieved 28 April 2014 On 28 January 2005, these services were taken over by Sydney Buses, with 630 jointly operated with Hillsbus.[https://web.archive.org/web/20050307130533/http://www.hillsbus.com.au/schools/harris%20park%20bus%20finish%20a4%20poster.pdf Cessation of some Hillsbus services], Retrieved 10 July 2014[https://web.archive.org/web/20050207000922/http://sydneybuses.info/news.php?id=137 STA operates Harris Park bus services from 28 January 2005], Sydney Buses, Published 27 January 2005, Retrieved 12 January 2025 Following further negotiations after ComfortDelGro Cabcharge's purchase of Hillsbus, routes 620, 625, 626, 627 and 630 were transferred back to Hillsbus as part of Sydney Bus Region 4 on 25 September 2005, with the remainder staying with Sydney Buses as part of Region 7.[https://web.archive.org/web/20051203213218/http://www.sydneybuses.info/news.php?id=232 Harris Park Services - Changes to Routes 620 - 630], Sydney Buses, Published 15 September 2005, Retrieved 28 April 2014 Route 624 later became Sydney Buses route 548, and then upgraded to Metrobus route M54 and extended to Macquarie Park in 2010.

Route 74/106, along with Moore's Tours route 954, was taken over by Punchbowl Bus Company and incorporated into Region 5, with the former renumbered 953.[http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/nsw.php?info=PUN Punchbowl Bus Co] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115230511/http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/nsw.php?info=PUN |date=15 November 2013 }} Australian Bus Fleet Lists

Harris Park Transport remained as a charter operator under the name CharterBus Direct.[https://web.archive.org/web/20070830042655/http://www.charterbusdirect.com.au/index.html Home] ChaterBus Direct This had ceased by 2007.

Five air-conditioned buses used for the CityBus Direct services were sold in 2006 to Adelaide bus operator Torrens Transit, and {{as of|2024|11|lc=y}}, the buses continue to be used for route services over there.

Prior to the cessation of CityBus Direct services, the stored-value CBD Easy card was accepted on these services as an alternative to cash.[https://web.archive.org/web/20041223190845/http://www.citybusdirect.com.au/CBD%20Easy.pdf CBD Easy Card brochure], Retrieved 3 August 2014 The cards became invalid after the transfer of these services to Hillsbus.

When operations ceased in December 2004, the fleet consisted of 72 buses. Fleet livery was cream and dark blue.

File:HPT Harris Park Depot.JPG

Harris Park Transport had depots in Harris Park, North Rocks and South Hurstville. The former Sutherland Bus Service depot in Gymea Bay was retained to store out of use buses. The depot in Harris Park has been demolished in 2015 for residential development.

{{Reflist}}

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20020305214336/http://www.citybusdirect.com.au/ CityBus Direct March 2002 Home Page]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20051028144854/http://www.westbus.com.au/uploads/docs/Hillsbus%20Network%20Map.pdf Westbus map showing only the former Harris Park Transport routes - December 2004]
• [http://www.showbus.com/australia/gallery/hpt.htm Showbus gallery]

Category:Bus companies of New South Wales

Category:Bus transport in Sydney

Category:Transport companies established in 1931

Category:Transport companies disestablished in 2004

Category:Australian companies established in 1931

Category:Australian companies disestablished in 2004