BPSWA's Latest Acquisition
The Bus Preservation Society of WA is now the proud owner of ex-Transperth 688 (UQB 688), a Howard Porter-bodied Mercedes O405, thanks to the outstanding generosity of local bus enthusiast Gavin Flahavin. Gavin made the unexpected and incredibly generous offer to donate the vehicle to the Society. His thoughtful contribution has provided a vital link in our collection, bridging the historical gap between our Mercedes O305 and O405NH models.
Bus 688 entered service in March 1988. After the cessation of government-operated services in 1998, it was operated by a number of Transperth contractors. Initially leased to Perth Bus in 1998, it was subsequently leased to Connex, Swan Transit, Veolia/Transdev, and Transdev, including a period with TransEsperance operator Redlion Bus & Coach. In 2016, 688 was finally withdrawn from service. Apart from changes to the destination equipment—replacing the original dot matrix display
with an LED version during its time with Transdev (including the side display, which was changed to an enlarged route number-only format)—and a change in seat fabric pattern, the bus remains largely in original condition.
Bus 688 entered service in March 1988. After the cessation of government-operated services in 1998, it was operated by a number of Transperth contractors. Initially leased to Perth Bus in 1998, it was subsequently leased to Connex, Swan Transit, Veolia/Transdev, and Transdev, including a period with TransEsperance operator Redlion Bus & Coach. In 2016, 688 was finally withdrawn from service. Apart from changes to the destination equipment—replacing the original dot matrix display
with an LED version during its time with Transdev (including the side display, which was changed to an enlarged route number-only format)—and a change in seat fabric pattern, the bus remains largely in original condition.
Mystery Tour
Recently, the BPSWA Mystery Tour saw a number of attendees arrive bright and early on a Wednesday morning, with little more than excitement and a sense of adventure, the location kept a closely guarded secret.
The destination turned out to be a guided tour of the Special Air Service (SAS) Historical Collection at Swanbourne Barracks. Exhibitions included a number of special purpose SAS vehicles, in addition to historic uniforms and even a UH1B Iroquois (Huey) utility helicopter. After the tour, attendees took a trip down to Cottesloe for lunch which was paired with an unbelievable view of the ocean.
The destination turned out to be a guided tour of the Special Air Service (SAS) Historical Collection at Swanbourne Barracks. Exhibitions included a number of special purpose SAS vehicles, in addition to historic uniforms and even a UH1B Iroquois (Huey) utility helicopter. After the tour, attendees took a trip down to Cottesloe for lunch which was paired with an unbelievable view of the ocean.
BPSWA Film Shoot
Recently, the BPSWA depot and workshop were thrust into the spotlight as they became the set for upcoming short film Open. Our volunteers guided the emerging filmmakers around, showing them the best locations and ensuring they captured the perfect take.
Open is a short film about a single mum raising her daughter with Autism when they uncover a human trafficking ring. The film is about maternal instinct and the good of humanity fighting against the darkest parts of humanity.
The film was created by a group of emerging filmmakers as part of a passion project. They hope to use Open to develop their filmmaking career while raising awareness about the important social issues showcased.
Our massive collection of historic buses provided the perfect backdrop, with a variety of shots captured inside the workshop and outside in the yard.
Open is a short film about a single mum raising her daughter with Autism when they uncover a human trafficking ring. The film is about maternal instinct and the good of humanity fighting against the darkest parts of humanity.
The film was created by a group of emerging filmmakers as part of a passion project. They hope to use Open to develop their filmmaking career while raising awareness about the important social issues showcased.
Our massive collection of historic buses provided the perfect backdrop, with a variety of shots captured inside the workshop and outside in the yard.
Kalamunda Kostera Centenary 2025
On Sunday 6 April, the Kostera family generously sponsored an event at the Kalamunda History Village to celebrate 100 years of their involvement in their community. BPSWA was very pleased to participate by displaying two buses from the collection, the main one being our 1952 AEC Regal IV, originally the fondly remembered 17, but later reborn as bus 1 in the charter bus fleet established by Stuart Kostera in the 1980s.
Former 17 led a brief cavalcade of historic vehicles from Kostera Oval to the Historic Village, and then was a feature of that days display. BPSWAs 1949 Leyland OPS4 ex Metro 81 also joined, illustrating the period when the MTT took over the Kalamunda bus operations from 1958. Also on display was the 1953 Bedford now owned by the Historical Village, restored by BPSWA Life Member Pat Hallahan. Pat was heavily involved in making the Centenary celebration happen and gave a speech in which he recounted memories from his long association with Kalamunda’s buses.
The event was very well attended, and BPSWA contributed to the commemoration, much helped by Stuart Kostera, Pat Hallahan, and Ian Craig.
Former 17 led a brief cavalcade of historic vehicles from Kostera Oval to the Historic Village, and then was a feature of that days display. BPSWAs 1949 Leyland OPS4 ex Metro 81 also joined, illustrating the period when the MTT took over the Kalamunda bus operations from 1958. Also on display was the 1953 Bedford now owned by the Historical Village, restored by BPSWA Life Member Pat Hallahan. Pat was heavily involved in making the Centenary celebration happen and gave a speech in which he recounted memories from his long association with Kalamunda’s buses.
The event was very well attended, and BPSWA contributed to the commemoration, much helped by Stuart Kostera, Pat Hallahan, and Ian Craig.
Government House Open Weekend
The 2025 Government House Open Weekend saw our 1949 Leyland Tiger (Metro 81) take centre stage outside the historic building. Attendees and BPSWA volunteers were treated to an impressive performance by the WA Police Pipe Band. Performances and tours continued throughout the day, proving very popular with eventgoers.
The annual event allows the public to access the historic buildings and gardens of Government House, which first opened its doors in 1863.
The annual event allows the public to access the historic buildings and gardens of Government House, which first opened its doors in 1863.
Kalamunda Centenary Celebrations - Sunday 6th April
BPSWA will be participating in the Kalamunda Centenary celebrations on Sunday 6th April and we will be represented by our 1952 AEC Regal Mark IV, Kalamunda 17 (K17). The bus was previously owned and operated by the Kostera family's Kalamunda Bus Service, and in this year's show will participate in a bus parade through the streets of Kalamunda. BPSWA Patron, Stewart Kostera, arranged for K17 to be detailed and polished in readiness for the event. K17 will be accompanied by Metro 81, our 1949 Leyland Tiger OPS4.
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Hyde Park Festival March 2025
Our 1949 Leyland Tiger OPS4 (Metro 81) and 1965 Aec Regal Mark VI (MTT 654) were our key exhibits at the Hyde Park Festival in Perth. The festival is an annual event at one of Perth's oldest inner city parks. Prior to European settlement, the area was known to the Whadjuk Noongar people as Boodjamooling, or 3rd swamp. The park was gazetted in 1897 and named Hyde Park in 1899 after London's Hyde Park. Our attendance was well worth the effort as there were many people keen to know more about us and the buses on display.
2025 Moorditj Footprint Tour
Our 1962 Leyland Royal Tiger Worldmaster ERT1/1 was recently out and about supporting historical community events in East Perth. A group of Indigenous elders toured the area to talk with supporters and the public about the curfews and restricted boundaries the government had in place for first nations people during the 1950s and 1960s. Thanks to our very personable drivers Don and Peter, it was a great success and everyone enjoyed the day.
Storage Update
Undercover storage at the BPSWA is at a premium but, in an effort try and protect some of our more valuable buses from the elements, we’ve recently been having a move around.
Our Mercedes OC500LE CAT bus (116) and Hydrogen Mercedes Citaro (Ecobus2) have moved into the workshop storage sheds and are now fully protected from the elements. While the Citaro was previously under partial cover, the front of the bus has experienced some sun damage and has faded a bit. Both buses are intended to be featured as static exhibits in our future museum.
The extra width of the Citaro means it's a tight squeeze in the shed now!
Some of our ‘runners’ and future restoration projects will then move into an open fronted machinery shed in our compound yard. Buses that are very long-term restoration projects will be moved into the open and will be protected by tarpaulins.
Two buses that haven’t seen daylight for a number of years had an airing during the moves, including:
Our 1950 ex-Carlisle Bus Service Bolton Bodied Daimler CVG5G (15) and our 1943 ex WA Government Tramways Leyland TB5 trolleybus (38).
Our Mercedes OC500LE CAT bus (116) and Hydrogen Mercedes Citaro (Ecobus2) have moved into the workshop storage sheds and are now fully protected from the elements. While the Citaro was previously under partial cover, the front of the bus has experienced some sun damage and has faded a bit. Both buses are intended to be featured as static exhibits in our future museum.
The extra width of the Citaro means it's a tight squeeze in the shed now!
Some of our ‘runners’ and future restoration projects will then move into an open fronted machinery shed in our compound yard. Buses that are very long-term restoration projects will be moved into the open and will be protected by tarpaulins.
Two buses that haven’t seen daylight for a number of years had an airing during the moves, including:
Our 1950 ex-Carlisle Bus Service Bolton Bodied Daimler CVG5G (15) and our 1943 ex WA Government Tramways Leyland TB5 trolleybus (38).
Return of Our Shuttle Service
With the opening of the Ellenbrook railway line, there is a need for a regular connection between Whiteman Village Centre and Whiteman Park Station. The station was officially opened on Sunday 8th December 2024.
In the week prior to the opening, BPSWA received a request from Whiteman Park management to operate a limited shuttle service on the day. While the shuttle did not end up being needed during the opening, it did operate on the following Saturday and Sunday, providing a 15-minute frequency. This complements the tram service which operates once per hour and allows visitors to enter the park earlier.
Following further discussions between BPSWA and Whiteman Park, it was agreed that BPSWA would no longer run the Discovery Tour on Sunday and instead operate the free shuttle service on both Saturday and Sunday. Transperth also provided permission to use the Kiss’N’Ride area at Whiteman Park Station for a 12-month period.
The service is proving extremely popular and enables visitors to reach the park earlier, with the first service commencing at 9.20am and operating on a 15-minute frequency until the last service at 4.10pm. The shuttle uses our air-conditioned and low-entry Mercedes O405NH (Swan Transit 1302) and connects with most trains at Whiteman Park Station. Hop on board and be amazed at how much you can fit into one day at Whiteman Park.
In the week prior to the opening, BPSWA received a request from Whiteman Park management to operate a limited shuttle service on the day. While the shuttle did not end up being needed during the opening, it did operate on the following Saturday and Sunday, providing a 15-minute frequency. This complements the tram service which operates once per hour and allows visitors to enter the park earlier.
Following further discussions between BPSWA and Whiteman Park, it was agreed that BPSWA would no longer run the Discovery Tour on Sunday and instead operate the free shuttle service on both Saturday and Sunday. Transperth also provided permission to use the Kiss’N’Ride area at Whiteman Park Station for a 12-month period.
The service is proving extremely popular and enables visitors to reach the park earlier, with the first service commencing at 9.20am and operating on a 15-minute frequency until the last service at 4.10pm. The shuttle uses our air-conditioned and low-entry Mercedes O405NH (Swan Transit 1302) and connects with most trains at Whiteman Park Station. Hop on board and be amazed at how much you can fit into one day at Whiteman Park.
Miss Pemberton Update
Our 1947 Bedford OB (ex-Tourist Omnibus Service), fondly known as ‘Miss Pemberton’ now has a roof after countless hours of hard work by our dedicated members!
Perth Bikers Charity Ride
The annual Salvation Army Perth Bikers Charity Ride finished at Mussel Pool West in Whiteman Park, just around the corner from our workshops. The vital charity ride raises money and collects gifts for underprivileged children for Christmas. Typically, the ride concludes in Joondalup, however this year the hundreds of motorbikes assembled in Whiteman Park for the first time.
We organised a display featuring three of our vintage buses for families and spectators to enjoy. Attendees were able to enjoy the BPSWA Event Bus, 1949 Leyland Tiger (Metro 81) and 1951 Guy Arab III (WAGT 101).
We organised a display featuring three of our vintage buses for families and spectators to enjoy. Attendees were able to enjoy the BPSWA Event Bus, 1949 Leyland Tiger (Metro 81) and 1951 Guy Arab III (WAGT 101).
Rotary Carine Community Fair
BPSWA volunteers attended the Rotary Carine Community Fair to share our heritage collection with the hundreds of people who showed up to enjoy the Fair. Many attendees reminisced experiences of travel on our buses. There was a great turnout and we received many small donations and sales throughout the day.
Members were joined by the BPSWA Event Bus, 1949 Leyland Tiger (Metro 81), 1962 Leyland Royal Tiger Worldmaster (MTT 452) and 1950 Leyland Tiger (MTT Tow Wagon 4). Our interactive miniature bus was also on site for younger visitors to enjoy.
Members were joined by the BPSWA Event Bus, 1949 Leyland Tiger (Metro 81), 1962 Leyland Royal Tiger Worldmaster (MTT 452) and 1950 Leyland Tiger (MTT Tow Wagon 4). Our interactive miniature bus was also on site for younger visitors to enjoy.
The Guy Wulfrunian
After many years of solid work, BPSWA member, Basil Hancock, has written a book on the Guy Wulfrunian bus. The book was published in the UK in October 2024 in an initial print run of 250 copies and is available through Classic Bus Publishing at www.classicbusmag.co.uk
BPSWA members Alan Mortimer, Colin Davison and Dave Urquhart and many others have contributed photos and information included throughout the book. Anyone in Australia interested in obtaining a copy can contact BPSWA via the Contact Us page.
BPSWA members Alan Mortimer, Colin Davison and Dave Urquhart and many others have contributed photos and information included throughout the book. Anyone in Australia interested in obtaining a copy can contact BPSWA via the Contact Us page.
Revolutions Transport Museum Monthly Display
On the fourth Sunday of each month, some of our heritage buses can be found on display outside the Revolutions Transport Museum in Whiteman Park. Several members were on site to chat to interested visitors and share some of their impressive knowledge. Four of our buses were present, the BPSWA Event Bus was joined by our 1974 Hino RC520P (MTT 83/City Clipper 933), 1962 Leyland Royal Tiger Worldmaster (MTT 452), 1950 AEC Regal Mark III Half-Cab (MTT 378). A special addition was our interactive miniature bus which was enjoyed by our younger visitors.
Our monthly displays are a great way to check out some of our collection and chat with our members. We also have a number of model buses available for purchase, in addition to our new calendar.
Photos: L McDiarmid
Our monthly displays are a great way to check out some of our collection and chat with our members. We also have a number of model buses available for purchase, in addition to our new calendar.
Photos: L McDiarmid
York Motor Show
On Sunday 1 September, a number of BPSWA volunteers and their partners travelled east to participate in the York Motor Show. The team was joined by a pair of Mercedes Benz O305's (MTT 339 and BPSWA Event Bus) in addition to our 1962 Leyland Royal Tiger Worldmaster (MTT 452). Once set up, we cranked up the heat, running a sausage sizzle which proved extremely popular amongst hungry Motor Show attendees.
Austin FG School Bus Update
Our 1967 Austin FG school bus has now returned to the BPSWA workshops after a 6 month stay at the Revolutions Transport Museum as a static exhibit. The bus has a multitude of problems, however Jim Buckingham is working tirelessly to ensure the bus is mechanically ship-shape before it goes out on the road again.
A New Museum Exhibit
After a little over a year on display at Revolutions Transport Museum in Whiteman Park, we’ve replaced our 1967 Austin FG school bus with our 1947 Dennis Lancet J3 (D24) from the former WA Government Railway Road Services. The Dennis Lancet J3 will be a temporary addition to the museum's exhibits for the foreseeable future.
Revolutions Transport Museum is an excellent destination, especially for families. It features a fascinating collection of artefacts and exhibits, showcasing various forms of land transport.
Find out more about our Austin FG school bus or Dennis Lancet J3 by clicking the buttons below.
Revolutions Transport Museum is an excellent destination, especially for families. It features a fascinating collection of artefacts and exhibits, showcasing various forms of land transport.
Find out more about our Austin FG school bus or Dennis Lancet J3 by clicking the buttons below.
RAAFA Visit Whiteman Park
A group from the (RAAFA) Aviation Heritage Museum recently visited the various transport museums located at Whiteman Park. BPSWA escorted the visitors on a tour of the park in our heritage 1974 Hino RC520P Hino - former MTT bus 83/City Clipper 933, driven by Colin Davison. In December this year, the Hino bus will celebrate 50 years serving the people of Perth, an impressive achievement. The visitors were camera shy, but our Hino was not, and the "City Clipper" was dazzling in its yellow livery outside the Whiteman Park Motor Museum. Photos by C Davison
Find out more about the Hino City Clipper 933 by clicking the button below.
Find out more about the Hino City Clipper 933 by clicking the button below.
A Beautiful Display Piece
Kudos to our father and son team for their fantastic work in sectioning and mounting a ZF Economat automatic gearbox! Alongside the Daimler diesel engine that Gary and Glen recently prepared, the gearbox will hopefully be showcased in our future museum. Shown from both sides below, we look forward to the public having the opportunity to enjoy the display. Photo: I Kerr
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Slide Digitisation Project
BPSWA's slide digitisation project is back on track after a faulty computer brought everything to an unexpected halt. Thanks to the generous support of David Dorsett-Lynn and the Retravision team, the project is now back on track with all the best equipment for the job. There is a big task ahead to scan, identify and name the many thousands of slides and pictures in our collection but our members are ready and willing to assist.
Photo: L McDiarmid
Photo: L McDiarmid
Click the Retravision logo to go to their website
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Thanking Our Supporters
BPSWA is extremely grateful to our sponsors and supporters who continue to provide essential support for our efforts, either through generous donations, or 'in kind' donations of their time, effort, gifts, or service discounts.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Click on the images below to visit our sponsors' websites (where available).
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Volgren Factory Visit
The BPSWA Team enthusiastically took up the offer from Volgren Malaga (Perth) to tour their factory and look at modern bus building. The team were able to see the intricacies of building the latest Perth buses including electric buses. Photos by R Goring
Supporting NAIDOC Week
During NAIDOC Week, the Salvation Army in Northbridge invited the BPSWA to take a group of Aboriginal Elders and associated families and friends on a heritage Moorditj Footprint Tour. The tour was to reminisce life for Aboriginal families in the East Perth area during the 1950s and 1960s. BPSWA Members Neil Munt, Maurice Bond and Brett McPherson used our restored 1962 Leyland Royal Tiger Worldmaster (MTT 452) - an excellent representative of 1960s Perth public buses. Photos by B McPherson
Miss Pemberton Is Shaping Up
Work continues on our 1947 Bedford OB, 'Miss Pemberton' with good progress being made on measuring up the windows and fitting external panels. BPSWA tries to re-use as many of the original panels as we can and fabricate new ones only where needed. Unfortunately the roof panels were not salvagable so new panels had to be fabricated and now have their undercoat of paint.
Visiting Enthusiasts!
Winter has arrived, but that did not stop fellow bus enthusiast, Lee Hall, from visiting with a group of car and bike enthusiasts with family and friends on a social outing at Whiteman Park. Neil Munt treated the visitors to morning tea, a tour of the workshops and our bus collection, and then a personalised tour of Whiteman Park in our fully restored 1950 AEC Regal Mark III half-cab (former MTT bus #378). Lee Hall had also brought along his double decker Leyland Titan OPD2/1. (9th May 2024)
Ashley and Friends Day
Where: Whiteman Park
Rain was forecast but it turned out to be a beautiful autumn day in Perth at Whiteman Park. It was a busy and exciting day for the kids who enjoyed their rides with Ashley and Friends at Bennett Brook Railway, the small animal farm and a jumping castle at Mussell Pool. Our heritage buses were there in force supporting Ashley around the park. The kids had great fun jumping on and off the display buses and checking out the BPSWA Events Bus. Our market stall was a great success too with hand-crafted T-shirts, bus driver badges, bus cards and mugs available for purchase, as well a model design of our planned museum to catch the eye of the public. A great community day!
Raising Funds and Having Fun!
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The last Sunday in April, and a selection of our heritage buses were on display at Revolutions Transport Museum at Whiteman Park. Some furry friends were out and about, raising funds for the Perth Electric Trams groups, and joined our team on the buses to have some fun in the park. The furry friends were a huge hit with visitors at the park on a beautiful autumn Sunday.
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Government House Open Day 2024
The weather was perfect for the Western Australian Government House Open Day on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th April. The open day was part of the 2024 Boorloo Heritage Festival and featured a smoking ceremony, the WA Police Pipe Band and various tours and activities for around 6000 people who attended. As always, our 1951 Guy Arab MkIII half cab (former WA Government Tramways bus 101) proved a big hit with the public - and with His Excellency the Honourable Governor Chris Dawson and his wife Darrilyn who were happy to pose with 101.
A Rebuild Masterpiece
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BPSWA members, father and son team, Glen and Gary Boorn have just completed the renovation of a Daimler D650 6-cylinder diesel engine, and what a fantastic job they have done! The engine is destined to be used a display piece in our future museum.
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Miss Pemberton's Family Visit
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The Bender family visited the BPSWA on Thursday 4th April to look at progress with the restoration of our 1946 Bedford OB bus, "Miss Pemberton". The bus was originally located on the family farm, and was donated to BPSWA so that restoration work could be undertaken.
The Bender grandchildren, Henryk, Levi and Zoe, along with grandparents Paul and Helen also had a good look around at some of our restored buses. Paul had memories of traveling on our restored Leyland Lion, WAGT DP 90, in the days when it provided passenger and freight services in the South West of Western Australia. The restoration is continuing steadily and the Bender family is looking forward to the time when Miss Pemberton is finished and on display to the WA public. |
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Firing Up The Thornycroft
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Our Thornycroft engine was recently fired up and given a run, just to keep it well-oiled and conditioned - the 1930 engine is still purring nicely. Restoration on the body and roof continues steadily with the roof measured up for its canopy, and the horn polished and sparkling.
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City Of Gosnells Museum - Wilkinson Homestead
Wilkinson Homestead, 34 Homestead Rd, Gosnells
BPSWA participated in this local heritage event on 3rd March and was represented by our 1949 Leyland Tiger OPS4 (Metro 81), our 1965 AEC Regal Mark VI (MTT 654), our 1980 Mercedes Benz O305 (MTT 339), and our 1980 Mercedes Benz O305 Events Bus (PTA 2461). The happy public were out and about enjoying the clear weather and our fabulous heritage buses.
BPSWA participated in this local heritage event on 3rd March and was represented by our 1949 Leyland Tiger OPS4 (Metro 81), our 1965 AEC Regal Mark VI (MTT 654), our 1980 Mercedes Benz O305 (MTT 339), and our 1980 Mercedes Benz O305 Events Bus (PTA 2461). The happy public were out and about enjoying the clear weather and our fabulous heritage buses.
Around The Bend - Radio KCR 102.5 FM
If you tuned in on Saturday 17th February to the Kalamunda radio show "Around The Bend", BPSWA President Ian Kerr, Treasurer Don Dryden, and Terry Duke talked about the Bus Preservation Society's activities, achievements and goals. If you missed the show on the day, you can listen to the light-hearted bus banter by clicking on the Play button below. Our thanks to KCR 102.5FM
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Pit Stop for Metro 81
BPSWA volunteer, Terry Abrahall, had our 1949 Leyland Tiger OPS4/1, former Metro No.81, over the workshop pit for some attention to its vacuum operated brakes. Photo: I Kerr
All In A Day's Work
It is not just restoration work that keeps our vibrant organisation ticking over. We like to keep a clean and tidy workplace, and recently, our volunteers were happily sorting tools and sweeping up to keep the workshop ship-shape. Other volunteers were also out and about searching for and retrieving recyclable materials including a large pile of wood that needed de-nailing.
Profile on BPSWA By Australasian Bus & Coach
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Check out this informative video on BPSWA produced by Australasian Bus & Coach in 2017. Some of the restoration projects featured are now complete (M199 and Scarborough 15) and the dedicated gang at the workshop are continuing their efforts on other restorations. Our thanks to Australian Bus & Coach.
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Model Demonstration
BPSWA Member Robert Jones recently treated the Tuesday workshop team to a demonstration of his beautifully hand-crafted remote-controlled model buses. Rob has built to-scale replicas of our 1938 International D35B Scarborough Bus #15, and Scarborough Bus #8 - a semi trailer bus. Both bus models are fully operational and built with meticulous attention to detail - including Scarborough Bus Company paintwork and logo, working lights and sounds. In addition to the bus models, Rob has also built a beautiful replica of our horse-drawn wagonette c1890.
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A Trip Down Memory Lane
Take a trip down memory lane with our late President Tom Curtis, and irrepressible BPSWA Honorary Life Member, Pat Hallahan, as they reflect on their love and appreciation of heritage buses in Western Australia.
Hear, Hear!
Listen to this short podcast from the Community Chat Show and hear about the beginning of the Bus Preservation Society of WA and its development over the decades to its current operation at Whiteman Park. An example of the extensive restoration work undertaken by the enthusiastic volunteers is this beautiful 1929 Leyland Lion.
Who Wants to Drive a Bus?
I do! Small visitors to the workshop had a wonderful time recently checking out our heritage buses and all the interesting activities at the workshop.
* Henry and his friend took turns sitting at the wheel of a bus pretending to be bus drivers.
* Parker took his Grandad, BPSWA member Kevin Nichols, to take a closer look at a Mercedes Benz gas engine.
* Callum and his brother Declan were on hand to watch their mum, BPSWA member Meagan Hedges, take driving lessons in one of our heritage buses.
Families and visitors of all ages are welcome at our Whiteman Park workshop and we have many members who are happy and willing to give a personalised guided tour of our buses and operations. If you are interested in visiting us on a Tuesday or Thursday, contact us in advance to let us know you are coming:
Use the "Contact Us" button below to send us a message, or,
Ring us on 0483 832 375.
* Henry and his friend took turns sitting at the wheel of a bus pretending to be bus drivers.
* Parker took his Grandad, BPSWA member Kevin Nichols, to take a closer look at a Mercedes Benz gas engine.
* Callum and his brother Declan were on hand to watch their mum, BPSWA member Meagan Hedges, take driving lessons in one of our heritage buses.
Families and visitors of all ages are welcome at our Whiteman Park workshop and we have many members who are happy and willing to give a personalised guided tour of our buses and operations. If you are interested in visiting us on a Tuesday or Thursday, contact us in advance to let us know you are coming:
Use the "Contact Us" button below to send us a message, or,
Ring us on 0483 832 375.
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The BPSWA Events Bus
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After months of restoration and modification work, our hard-working team has our events bus ready for the road. Displaying company logos of pre-MTT era bus companies, (re-created by BPSWA Member Brett McPherson), the bus will accompany us to community heritage events to help promote the goals and achievements of BPSWA. The 1980 Mercedes Benz O305 was generously donated to BPSWA by long-serving BPSWA member Ian Kerr. Photos: Shane Montague, Brett McPherson and Ron McDiarmid
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Our Workshop Springs Into Action
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When spring sets in, our depot workshop is a hive of activity of all types.
Our restoration projects are in full swing - Miss Pemberton now has more body panels, the Alpine Parlour Car work continues, and the Thornycroft charabanc continues to take shape. We also have a de-construction project underway! One of our buses, former MTT 228, is being dismantled in readiness to be used as a cut-down museum display. |
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Keeping the Records Straight
Work continues on getting our archive material recorded and digitised. A whole team of people have been sorting, scanning and storing our huge collection of bus timetables dating back to the early 1900s. We regularly receive generously donated documents and artefacts of all sorts that need to be accurately recorded and safely stored and protected. BPSWA members Andrew and Jacob were working on scanned timetables.
BPSWA's 2021 In Pictures
Our team of BPSWA volunteers was kept very busy in 2021. Major projects in progress are the restoration of a 1946 Bedford touring bus "Miss Pemberton", a 1930 Thonycroft charabanc, and restoration of the paint and bodywork of a 1967 Leyland Lion PSR1/1 - a former West Australian Government Railways bus. In addition to the restoration work, there were a number of teams tidying up the spare parts, sorting through documentary artefacts, cleaning of our regular service buses, and providing bus services at Whiteman Park when COVID restrictions were not in place. The team is looking forward to an equally busy 2022.
"Guest" Coach
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2021 marked 150 years of railways in WA, and this TransWA 2016 Volgren coach was a special guest display bus at our Night of Buses and Stars Christmas event at Whiteman Park.
This luxury Volgren coach is one of the latest coaches servicing the Western Australian network. It has a Volvo chassis from Sweden fitted with an Iriza body and interior from Brazil. It has a 450hp turbo-charged diesel engine, a steerable lazy rear axle and is also fitted with a wheel chair hoist. The coach’s luxury interior is fully air-conditioned with a hands free phone system, 56 reclining seats, a full entertainment system and an on-board toilet. |
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The Thornycroft Revs Up
Another sigificant milestone was achieved in the workshop recently with the start-up of the Thornycroft engine. After many months of hard work the engine was purring beautifully - and it is more than 50 years since it last ran!
The Parlour Car
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The Parlour car returned to the BPSWA workshop in 2021 to continue its restoration. The vehicle belongs to the WA Museum and BPSWA will be assisting with the completion of the restoration work. A full assessment will be carried out to determine what work needs to be completed to restore the vehicle to display condition.
Photos: Colin Davison |
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Workshop Days
Volunteer days at our Whiteman Park workshop are:
- Every Tuesday from 8am to 1pm
- Every Thursday from 8am to 111am
BPSWA's Busy 2020 - In Pictures
Despite the challenges posed by COVID19, the team of volunteers at the BPSWA workshop were kept extremely busy. We reflect on some of those busy times with restorations, general maintenance and community events throughout 2020.
A Milestone Moment
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It was a pivotal and rewarding moment in the workshop recently when some components of the charabanc restoration project came together for the first time. A number of our volunteers took part in positioning the wood-framed charabanc body into place over the 1930 Thornycroft chassis. There is much more to do but progress is steady. A great moment!
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"Miss Pemberton" Steps Forward
"Miss Pemberton", our 1946 Bedford OB bus is in the workshop undergoing her extensive restoration and transformation. This tourist coach, which was operated by Metro Tours, ended its working life on a farm near Nyabing in the Western Australian wheatbelt before being donated to BPSWA for restoration.
K17 Sparkles
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One of the most important and regular tasks at our workshop on Tuesday is keeping our restored buses clean and in pristine condition ready for presentation at community events.
One of our newest members, Maree, takes a well-earned break after giving K17 a thorough clean inside and out. Well done Maree - K17 is sparkling! Kalamunda 17 (K17) is the sole surviving bus from the Kalamunda Bus Service. The 1952 AEC Regal Mark IV was donated to BPSWA by the Kostera family in 2008 and is a popular and regular exhibit at community events. |
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A Replacement Engine For the Panther
Our 1974 Leyland Panther is over the pit for some major work.
No 988 was one of the last Panthers to enter service with the MTT in October 1974. Its passenger carrying activities continued well after the MTT was re-badged as Transperth in 1986. This bus remained in service for close to 20 years before being donated to the Bus Preservation Society of WA (Inc) in 1994 and is still used today to provide Shuttle, Explorer and Heritage tours around Whiteman Park.
Unfortunately the engine has failed and John Young and Graham Horton are preparing to fit a replacement engine. Assisting them is a team of graduate Engineering students from UWA who are gaining valuable hands-on experience.
Click here to read the full story of MTT 988
No 988 was one of the last Panthers to enter service with the MTT in October 1974. Its passenger carrying activities continued well after the MTT was re-badged as Transperth in 1986. This bus remained in service for close to 20 years before being donated to the Bus Preservation Society of WA (Inc) in 1994 and is still used today to provide Shuttle, Explorer and Heritage tours around Whiteman Park.
Unfortunately the engine has failed and John Young and Graham Horton are preparing to fit a replacement engine. Assisting them is a team of graduate Engineering students from UWA who are gaining valuable hands-on experience.
Click here to read the full story of MTT 988
ABC Radio Perth Visit
ABC Radio Perth came out to our workshop and interviewed some of the active volunteers on the day including our President Tom Curtis and the ever-lively Pat Hallahan. If you missed the interview with ABC's Emma Wynne, you can always watch the ABC online video - click on this link
Photo: Dave Tierney
Photo: Dave Tierney
Restoration of 1930 Thornycroft Bus
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Our next big restoration project is well underway! Our 1930 wood-framed Thornycroft bus is in the workshop and restoration has begun.
Neil and his team have already started building the wooden frame onto the chassis. The "spare" vehicle in the southern lease compound has been stripped down to salvage any usable parts for the restoration. The engine has been partially stripped and poses numerous challenges. Work is progressing on three fronts with different teams - the chassis, the body work and the mechanical components. A big job ahead but the team is enthusiastic! |
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It's always a busy time at the Workshop - come join us!
About Our Workshop
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- The BPSWA Workshop is situated inside Whiteman Park along with the Bennett Brook Railway, the Perth Electric Tramways and the Park's maintenance workshops.
- Visits by the public to the 'Workshop area are welcome by arrangement - click Contact Us to request a visit. The Workshop hours are 8am to 1pm each Tuesday.
- When visiting the workshops, please consider your safety - wear close-fitting clothing and closed shoes. Children must be supervised at all times. Hi-Vis vests, safety glasses and ear plugs are available for visitors thanks to one of our generous Sponsors - Stocklands.
- Morning Tea is generally at 9.30am and lunch at 12.00pm. You would be very welcome to join our volunteers in the crib room for coffee or tea and a biscuit.
- If you would like to join our volunteer organisation and participate in preserving Western Australian history - click Join The Fun.
The Workshop
BPSWA has about 2,500 square metres of workshop and undercover storage space at our depot at Whiteman Park. Here we house about 27 buses, some of these we have restored or rebuilt; some are in undercover storage as they are rare or unique and need to be protected from the elements. Others (about 15) have been rebuilt /refurbished and operate as part of our unique collection of operating 'in service' buses and need storage undercover.
The dedicated workshop area has;
The People
Each area has a committed team of trades and trade assistants, and each project has an identified Project Leader working under the management of the workshop foreman. A 'stores' controller, manages the supplies of (largely) recovered parts from previously 'broken up' buses. Usually the 'crib room' has about 25 to 30 people enjoying the fellowship at morning tea or lunch. A small group collect batteries and metal waste from sponsors who continually donate these items to the Society. These are 'on-sold' to earn funds for the restoration activities. There is a group of administrators/archivists who prepare material for display; digitise manuals and other documents for use in the workshops; record and manage the archival material and some 20,000 items of memorabilia, books, photographs and other records.
A small group of volunteers check tyres, batteries, water, oil and fuel each week for the operational buses in the fleet. As well, these intrepid group of volunteers service these buses on a rotational basis to make sure that they are available for the weekly running on the Shuttle and Explorer services operated by the Society for Whiteman Park, each weekend. All our members are volunteers who give up their time and energy to work on a range of projects and activities such as these.
BPSWA has about 2,500 square metres of workshop and undercover storage space at our depot at Whiteman Park. Here we house about 27 buses, some of these we have restored or rebuilt; some are in undercover storage as they are rare or unique and need to be protected from the elements. Others (about 15) have been rebuilt /refurbished and operate as part of our unique collection of operating 'in service' buses and need storage undercover.
The dedicated workshop area has;
- a pit and floor space for general maintenance,
- a body shop,
- a mechanical workshop,
- a dedicated section for up to five major projects/rebuilds.
The People
Each area has a committed team of trades and trade assistants, and each project has an identified Project Leader working under the management of the workshop foreman. A 'stores' controller, manages the supplies of (largely) recovered parts from previously 'broken up' buses. Usually the 'crib room' has about 25 to 30 people enjoying the fellowship at morning tea or lunch. A small group collect batteries and metal waste from sponsors who continually donate these items to the Society. These are 'on-sold' to earn funds for the restoration activities. There is a group of administrators/archivists who prepare material for display; digitise manuals and other documents for use in the workshops; record and manage the archival material and some 20,000 items of memorabilia, books, photographs and other records.
A small group of volunteers check tyres, batteries, water, oil and fuel each week for the operational buses in the fleet. As well, these intrepid group of volunteers service these buses on a rotational basis to make sure that they are available for the weekly running on the Shuttle and Explorer services operated by the Society for Whiteman Park, each weekend. All our members are volunteers who give up their time and energy to work on a range of projects and activities such as these.
