SYDNEY GOVERNMENT BUS ROUTES Brief histories from 1932 to the present of Government bus services in the metropolitan area of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Route histories – Inner Northern Suburbs Routes in the 200-299 range from the 1940s & their predecessors (now part of Contract Regions 7 & 8) Routes 2, 47, 67, 163 in the 1925 route number system Routes 900-902 in the original three-digit route number system and Routes 020, 200-210, 216, 218-275, 284-297, 547 in the standard three-digit (Sydney Region) route number system A work in progress. Corrections and comments welcome – [email protected] Much of the information in these listings has been derived from City to Suburb – a 50 year journey, by Greg Travers, as well as Greg’s contributions to Fleet Line & Australian Bus magazines, much of which has been well summarised by Trevor Woolley. These sources are gratefully acknowledged. These listings cover regular route services, but exclude special & promotional services. Numbers for express routes in the Inner Northern Suburbs have three numerals (in the same series as non-express routes) without the alphabetical prefixes “E” or “X” which are used for Government express bus routes elsewhere in Sydney. denotes this route or this version of the route no longer operative. Suburbs covered by these routes (Suburbs with wharves served by regular ferry services (F) or railway stations (R) in bold) Balmoral Beach East Lindfield Marsfield Northbridge Balmoral Heights East Roseville McMahons Point (F) Northwood Beauty Point East Willoughby Middle Cove Osborne Park Cammeray Epping Milsons Point (F, R) Riverview Castlecrag Georges Heights Mosman (F) Spit Junction Chatswood (R) Gore Hill Naremburn St Leonards (R) Chatswood West Greenwich (F) Neutral Bay (F) The Spit Chowder Bay Kirribilli (F) North Cremorne Waverton (R) Clifton Gardens Lane Cove North Epping Willoughby Cremorne (F) Lane Cove West North Ryde (R) Wollstonecraft (R) Crows Nest Longueville North Sydney (R) Denistone East Macquarie Park (R) North Willoughby Page 1 of 76 14 August 2018 Route Histories Govt Inner North 1 Some routes extend beyond the extent of this area to patronage generators such as Bondi Junction, the City, Gladesville & Drummoyne. + + + + + + + + + Operators’ names (All agencies of the New South Wales Government) 1932-1952 Department of Road Transport & Tramways 1952-1972 Department of Government Transport 1972-1981 Public Transport Commission (Bus Division) 1981-1990 Urban Transit Authority 1990- State Transit Authority + + + + + + + + + Part 1: Route numbers in the range 2-249 (Higher numbers listed in Part 2) Unnumbered WILLOUGHBY – NORTHBRIDGE (The Knoll) and Route 2 CITY (Wynyard) – WILLOUGHBY – NORTHBRIDGE (The Knoll) Timeline 28 May 1936: Suspension Bridge (north end) – Northbridge (The Knoll) commenced as a full-time unnumbered route, replacing the outer end of the Wynyard – Northbridge tram service, which was curtailed when the structure of the Suspension Bridge was found to be unsafe. Soon after: Extended from Suspension Bridge (north end) to Willoughby (Frenchs Rd), connecting with Wynyard – Chatswood trams. 4 April 1937: Extended from Willoughby (Frenchs Rd) to North Sydney station & numbered 2. 1 August 1937: Extended from North Sydney station to City (Wynyard), as a result of pressure to provide a through service between Northbridge & the City, as had the previous tram service. First regular bus route to run over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 10 September 1939: Rerouted via Cammeray [formerly Suspension] Bridge on its re-opening & renumbered 202. Streets Willoughby – Northbridge (The Knoll) From 1936 From Willoughby (Frenchs Rd at Willoughby Rd) via Frenchs Rd, Alpha Rd, Sailors Bay Rd, Mulgarra Rd, Baroona Rd, Strathallen Av, Sailors Bay Rd, Neeworra Rd to Weetaliba Rd (The Knoll, Northbridge). Reverse on return. North Sydney – Willoughby – Northbridge (The Knoll) From 4 April 1937 From North Sydney (Blue St at station) via Walker St, Pacific Hwy, Willoughby Rd (Crows Nest, Willoughby), Frenchs Rd, Alpha Rd, Sailors Bay Rd, Mulgarra Rd, Baroona Rd, Strathallen Av, Sailors Bay Rd, Neeworra Rd to Weetaliba Rd (The Knoll, Northbridge). From Northbridge (The Knoll) (Neeworra Rd at Weetaliba Rd) via reverse route to Pacific Hwy, then Miller St, Blue St to North Sydney station. City (Wynyard) – Willoughby – Northbridge (The Knoll) From City (Wynyard) (Carrington St) via Margaret St, Clarence St, Bradfield Hwy [Sydney Harbour Bridge], Pacific Hwy, Blue St (North Sydney), Miller St, Pacific Hwy, Willoughby Rd (Crows Nest, Willoughby), Frenchs Rd, Alpha Rd, Sailors Bay Rd, Mulgarra Rd, Baroona Rd, Strathallen Av, Sailors Bay Rd to The Knoll (Northbridge). From Northbridge (The Knoll) (Sailrs Bay Rd at The Knoll) via reverse route to Bradfield Hwy [Sydney Harbour Bridge], then York St, Wynyard St to Wynyard Park. Page 2 of 76 14 August 2018 Route Histories Govt Inner North 1 Timetable Summary 4 April 1937 Av day Off-peak First trip Last trip Destinations Day freq/No trip time Notes From Time From Time of trips North Sydney- 20 M-F The Knoll 5.28am North Sydney 12.38am 15* Northbridge (The Sat 5.28am 12.38am 15 Knoll) Sun North Sydney 7.08am 11.48pm 15 A Hols The Knoll 5.28am 12.38am 15 * More frequent in peak hours. A – Plus short-working/s after last trip shown. 1 August 1937 Av day s Off-peak First trip Last trip Destinations Day freq/No trip time Note From Time From Time of trips City (Wynyard)- 28 M-F The Knoll 5.28am Wynyard 12.34am 15* Northbridge (The Sat 5.28am 12.34am 15 Knoll) Sun ? ? Hols ? ? * More frequent in peak hours. A – Plus short-working/s after last trip shown. Route 020 MOSMAN WHARF – SPIT JUNCTION (Sundays only) Timeline 4 October 1953: Replaced Mosman Wharf – Cremorne Junction tram service on Sundays (& Public Holidays from 17 April 1954). The leading “0” on this route number followed the practice, commenced in 1948-49, of routes which replaced trams on Sundays, when power was being conserved due to coal shortages. 19 November 1955: 020 (Sundays) & the Mosman Wharf – Cremorne Junction tram service (Mondays to Saturdays) ceased & were due to be replaced by 220 Mosman Wharf – Spit Junction (full time) & supplementary 219, but their start was delayed by an industrial dispute over the operation of one-man buses. Replacement routes 219 & 220 eventually commenced on 6 December 1955. Streets From 4 October 1953 (based on later timetables for Route 220) From Mosman Wharf via Avenue Rd, Military Rd (Mosman Junction), Gouldsbury St, Myahgah Rd to Military Rd (Spit Junction). From Spit Junction (Myahgah Rd at Military Rd) via Military Rd, Avenue Rd to Mosman Wharf. Timetable Summary 4 February 1954 Av day Off-peak First trip Last trip Destinations Day freq/No trip time Notes From Time From Time of trips Mosman Wharf- 8 M-F Spit Junction Sat Sun Spit Junction 7.12am Mosman Whf 10.25pm 30 Route 47 CHATSWOOD – WILLOUGHBY PARK – CASTLECRAG – WILLOUGHBY (Frenchs Rd) Selected trips extended from Willoughby (Frenchs Rd) to Northbridge (The Knoll) Timeline 1 March 1937: Full time service taken over from Fred Rohrs. Page 3 of 76 14 August 2018 Route Histories Govt Inner North 1 11 September 1939: Upon re-opening of the Cammeray [formerly Suspension] Bridge: Partly replaced by new 267 McMahons Point – Crows Nest – Cammeray – Northbridge – Chatswood. Service in Willoughby Park area generally replaced by new 207 in adjacent thoroughfare, Eastern Valley Way (renamed from Lyle St). Service between Northbridge Junction (Strathallen Av/Sailors Bay Rd) and Northbridge (The Knoll) generally replaced by 202. Selected trips at school start & finish times ran Willoughby – Northbridge (The Knoll) via Oakville Rd, High St, McClelland St, Fourth Av over some streets served by 47 (when ceased?). Streets From 1 March 1937 From Chatswood (Orchard Rd at station) via [Help St, Anderson St,] Victoria Av, Archer St, Johnson St, Stanley St, Fry St, Sydney St, Laurel St (Willoughby), Penshurst St, Rosewall St, High St, McClelland St (Willoughby Park), Fourth Av, Edinburgh Rd to The Postern (Castlecrag), then Edinburgh Rd, High St, Mowbray Rd, Willoughby Rd to Frenchs Rd (Willoughby). From Willoughby (Willoughby Rd at Frenchs Rd) via reverse route to Victoria Av, then Orchard Rd to Chatswood station. Trips not via Castlecrag (morning peak hour & late night): Ex Chatswood from Fourth Av via Edinburgh Rd, High St. Reverse on return. Northbridge (The Knoll) extension: From Willoughby (Frenchs Rd) via Frenchs Rd, Alpha Rd, Sailors Bay Rd, Neeworra Rd to Weetaliba Rd (The Knoll, Northbridge). Reverse on return. Alteration From 12 December 1937 (trips from Chatswood terminating at Willoughby (Frenchs Rd)): Ex Chatswood from Willoughby Rd via Julian St, Edward St, Borlaise St. Return via Willoughby Rd. Timetable Summary 1 March 1937 Av day Off-peak First trip Last trip Destinations Day freq/No trip time Notes From Time From Time of trips Chatswood- Fr Chats M-F Chatswood 7.51amN The Knoll 5.00pmC A Willoughby 19F Chatswood 10.30pmF (Frenchs Rd)† 27N Sat Frenchs Rd 7.46amC 11.30pmF 30 B Sun 1.36amC 10.13pmF 60 D Hols 8.36amC 10.13pmF 60 E * More frequent in peak hours. † Selected trips extended to Northbridge (The Knoll). A – Peak hours, Chatswood-Willoughby (Frenchs Rd)-Northbridge (The Knoll). Day, Chatswood-Willoughby (Frenchs Rd) 60*. Night, Chatswood-Willoughby (Frenchs Rd). Plus short-working/s before first trip & after last trip shown. B – Plus picture buses Northbridge (The Knoll)-Chatswood. Gap in service. Plus short-working/s before first trip