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History

1922 to 1954

Jones Bros Bus Company Pty Ltd had a humble beginning when in 1922, Mr Lewis Jones and his brother Maurice Jones commenced Passenger Transport of a weekend with a horse and dray conveying passengers on a Lithgow tour. They used the horse and dray during the week to transport Lithgow made Ginger Beer to stores in Lithgow.

From horse and dray, the two brothers progressed to a forward control Bus after being granted a licence to operate a bus service to the Small Arms Factory and the Littleton area of Lithgow.

The potential of providing daily transport from the Lithgow area to Sydney led to the purchase of the "CHARABANC" (a long open coach). From the Charabanc, the 7-seater Packard cars were purchased to provide an increasing service need. On their journey to Sydney along the Great Western Highway, the Packard would encounter some difficulties as seen below.

During the Second World War the Small Arms Factory was operating at full capacity. Lithgow's population reached 40,000 and six different bus companies operated in the area. The Jones Bus service grew to three vehicles with the purchase in 1941 of the M0658 "GMC", M0713 "GMC" and the M0714 "REO".

The picture shows the coal gas bag located on the roof of the bus. This coal gas powered the bus instead of petrol as petrol was not only difficult to come by at the time but very expensive. There was and still is a lot of coal in the Lithgow area therefore this alternative fuel seemed a far better choice.

Ernest, Netta (Foster - sister) and Keith (left)

In 1954, Lewis Jones retired from the business and his two sons, Ernest and Keith (below) purchased the business from their father and commenced trading as Jones Bros Bus Service.

1955 to the Present

During this time the Jones Bros Bus Service grew to a massive seven vehicles. In 1966 they took delivery of their first new bus for many years, a 43 seat Bedford SB diesel. With the takeover of one of the other bus services that operated in the Lithgow area, their fleet grew to thirteen buses. It increased further with the introduction of limited free school travel for students.

Jones Bros Bus Company was incorporated in July 1966. In 1974 Peter Jones (on the left), son of Keith entered the family business and in May of the same year Graham Jones (on the right), son of Ernest also commenced with the company.

By the 1980s. the Company was running 14 School Charter Buses and seven route Buses with Bedford vehicles. The fleet totalled nearly 24 with two Bedford fixed coach seats. In 1991 the Company operated a fleet of 24 vehicles, two Mercedes Benz coaches, A Toyota Mini Bus and 21 route buses conveying over 2500 school students per day with 56 timetabled services provided six days a week.

Jones Bros Bus Company operates from depot facilities in Donald Street Lithgow and these facilities were constructed in 1978 by their own labours.