Kefford Corporation

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]

Kefford Corporation
Foundedearly 1850s
Ceased operation23 February 2009
Service areaMelbourne
Ballarat
Geelong
Service typeTruck, bus & coach operator
DepotsAltona
Ballarat
Geelong
Oakleigh
Sunshine
Werribee
Websitewww.kefford.com.au

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]

  • Altona Bus Lines, Altona
  • Footscray - Yarraville Bus Service, Yarraville
  • North Sunshine Bus Service, Sunshine
  • St Albans Bus Service, Sunshine
  • Sitch Bus Service, Sunshine

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 acqusition 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.

References
  1. 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. "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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