Woolnoughs John Masterton.

[geoff Attwell]

Did the Archie Woolnough buses that serviced Geelong and Portarlington areas become John Masterton's Bellarine Buslines Fleet or did John Masterton just collect and restore old buses ?.

[burrumbus]

John Masterton and wife,Brenda,purchased Woolnough's business,through Brejon Pty.Ltd in 1980.14 buses were purchased along with the licence for Geelong-Portarlington-St.Leonards.
He also was a bus restorer and complete bus enthusiast.

[geoff Attwell]

Hi burrumbus,

Thank you for your quick reply and great information. I have seen a vidoe about Woolnoughs buses and it was said they sold on 1 July 1980 and "later became McHarrys". McHarry's website says they started in 1932, so did John Masterton sell Bellarine Buslines to them ?.

[scott]

McHarrys acquired Bellarine Bus Lines in 2000, after John Masterton's death a year or two before.

[geoff Attwell]

Thank you, Scott. That completes the puzzle.

[burrumbus]

The Lucas family of Warrnambool Bus Lines fame also had a shareholding in the business for several years before the sale of the business.It expanded from the 14 buses to 50 buses over the Masterton's ownership span.Mainly additional school bus services,but also the V/line run Geelong-Apollo Bay and charter/tour coaches under the Advance Tours business name.John ran a very good business.

[scott]

Thanks for answering a question for me too Burrumbus, I wondered where the Advance Tours name fitted in.

[burrumbus]

Pleasure Scott and Geoff.Warrnambool Bus Lines also operated several charter coaches under the Advance Tours name for several years.Brejon Pty.Ltd sold to McHarrys 1/7/00.

[system improver]

Advance Tours was established by John Masterton in 1987, ten years before he died. Both McHarry's and Warrnambool BL assisted Brenda Masterton in the running of Bellarine Transit and Advance Tours after John's death and prior to the sale of the business.

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