Panorama Coaches

	Volgren bodied MAN 19.320 on route 580 at Eltham station in September 2023
Parent	Dineen Group
Headquarters	Diamond Creek
Service area	North-East Melbourne
Service type	Bus & coach operator
Routes	5
Fleet	95 (December 2023)
Website	www.panoramacoaches.com.au

Panorama Coaches is a bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It operates four routes under contract to Public Transport Victoria. It is a subsidiary of the Dineen Group.

History

In September 1949, Don Nugent and W McKenzie purchased Panorama Bus Service from H Jewell with route 699 from Belgrave to Upwey. The business was sold in August 1953 to Messrs Ashby and Jewell and for the next nine years, Nugent operated a taxi company. In November 1962, he purchased Boronia Bus Lines. A charter operation was established under the name Australian Rambler Coaches and the route services sold in September 1970 to Ventura Bus Lines.^[2]

In October 1985, Nugent became a shareholder in the Clipper Tours business in Sydney. The Australian Rambler livery was adopted and a few coaches transferred.^[3]

In January 1989, Australian Rambler Coaches was sold to Cobb & Co with Nugent retaining a 15 coaches and reactivating the Panorama Coaches name.^[4]^[5]^[6] In October 1990, Panorama Coaches was sold to the Dineen Group with 13 buses and coaches.^[7]^[8]

In May 1991, Hurstbridge Coaches was purchased by the Dineen Group.^[9] Both operations were later consolidated under the Panorama Coaches name.

Fleet

As at December 2023, the fleet consisted of 95 buses and coaches.^[1] Fleet livery is white with maroon and blue stripes while some route buses carry the Public Transport Victoria orange and white livery.

References

^ ^a ^b "Dineen Group - Panorama Coaches, Diamond Creek". Australian Bus Fleet Lists. Bus Australia. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
^ Ventura Motors buys out Boronia Bus Lines Truck & Bus Transportation October 1970 page 125
^ New owners for Clipper Tours Group Truck & Bus Transportation December 1985 page 17
^ Don Nugent Flies into Semi-Retirement Australasian Bus & Coach February 1989 page 32
^ Australian Rambler Australian Bus Panorama issue 4/5 March 1989 page 34
^ Australian Rambler sold Fleetline issue 165 April 1989 page 60
^ Panorama Coaches Australian Bus Panorama issue 6/5 January 1991 page 49
^ Panorama Coaches Australian Bus Panorama issue 6/7 March 1991 page 40
^ Hurstbridge Coaches Australian Bus Panorama issue 7/1 August 1991 page 34