Rover Coaches History
1925 Local Businessman, George Ryder, purchases two small bus operators in the coalfields: The South Maitland Motor Company and the Marble Bar Motor Service.
He named the company Rover Motors Pty. Ltd. Rab Lewis soon joined him in the business, remaining with the company for over 60 years.
1930s The coalfields boom and buses packed full of miners rattle to the sound of miners whistles across the region. Nowadays, these mines are ghosts of the past with the only reminder being old poppet heads and chimneys strewn across the countryside.
Rover Motors grows to become the largest and most progressive bus company in the state and pioneers the introduction of the first centre-door Double Decker Buses into Australia.
1940s Rover Motors is the only private bus company operating Double Decker in Australia until after WW2. In 1944 Rover Motors still continues as the innovator in the bus industry by purchasing the first Semi Trailer Bus in Australia - an imposing site with 14 wheels and 59 seats.
The then minister of transport predicts "this type of transport to replace trams" at the presentation of the vehicle to the company.
Rovers begins a long association with the Fogg and Mordue families who become part owners of the company.
1950s Rover Motors continues its expansion through the 50's.
Buses now run to Maitland every half an hour from 4.30am to midnight with up to 5 Double Deckers jammed full of revelers operating to the dances Friday and Saturday nights. Services commence to Wangi and Swansea on Friday nights, returning Sunday as people travel to weekenders by the sea.
Services commence to BHP in Newcastle, and with exciting opportunities for employment, the services flourish. Six Double Deckers to day shift, two to afternoon shift and two to dogwatch are required - all full.
Jack Lewis joins as an apprentice and spends the next 50 years working in the company, building one of the finest fleets in the country.
1960s Better buses, now known as coaches, and better roads present opportunities for entrepreneurs. Rover Motors begins operating tours including "faraway" places like the Gold Coast and Snowy Mountains.
With the demise of the railway in Cessnock, Rover Motors first service to Newcastle departs at 7.00am on October 3rd, 1967. Rab Lewis is greeted by the NBN Channel 3 News on arrival.
1970s The family car becomes available and brings out the demise of overcrowded bus travel.
Rover Motors opens a Travel Agency and begins operating tours across Australia as well as providing overseas and domestic travel arrangements.
1980s The company builds its strength, establishing a strong and efficient bus network across the coalfields.
The coach operation grows with the increasing interest in leisure, theatre, sporting, and special events in the Hunter and Sydney. The expanding developments in wine country also present exciting business opportunities.
Aaron Lewis joins the company, becoming the third generation Lewis to work in the bus industry. In 1985 the family buys sole ownership from the Mordue family and begins to develop the company in new areas.
1990s Now simply known as Rover, the company expands its network of services across the coalfields in the mid 90s and introduces the first ultra-low floor buses outside of a capital city. These innovative vehicles are the most people friendly buses in the world with no steps - walk on - walk off.
The coaches are the most modern in Australia. All Mercedes-Benz with an amazing average age of two years. Rovers begins to move into major events and conferencing in the Pokolbin wine region.
2000 Rover registers the first coach in the new century. Another Mercedes-Benz deluxe coach that will take the company and our customers into the new Millennium in style and confidence!
Now owned by Gregory, Aaron, Philip and Jennine Lewis with Mike Kerr as operations manager, Rover Wine Country Coaches establishes a presence in the Sydney day tours market, with daily services into the Pokolbin region.