Bowman's Bus Services

Bowman's Bus Services

Parent	Jack Bowman Milton Bowman
Commenced operation	April 1935
Ceased operation	23 February 1974
Headquarters	St Agnes
Service area	Adelaide
Service type	Bus operator
Depots	1
Fleet	42 (February 1974)]

Bowman's Bus Services was an Australian bus company in Adelaide.

History

In April 1935, David Bowman commenced operating a weekly bus service from Hope Valley to the Adelaide city centre via Peserverance Road. The service quickly expanded to become twice daily. From circa 1937, a second service commenced from Tea Tree Gully to One Tree Hill.

A second service from Tea Tree Gully to Adelaide via North East Road later commenced. Following David Bowman's passing in 1967, it passed to his sons, Jack and Milton.

By the early 1970s, Bowman's had expanded to operate nine routes:

• 540: One Tree Hill to Adelaide city centre
• 541: Fairview Park to Adelaide city centre
• 542: Tea Tree Gully to Adelaide city centre
• 543: Redwood Park to Adelaide city centre
• 544: Westfield Tea Tree Plaza - Modbury Heights
• 550: St Agnes - Adelaide city centre
• 551: St Agnes - Adelaide city centre
• 560: Tea Tree Gully - Elizabeth
• 561: Tea Tree Gully - Salisbury

With falling revenues and rising costs, on 11 February 1974 the routes of Bowman's, along with those of 11 other operators, were taken over by the Municipal Tramways Trust.

Fleet

Up until the late 1950s, the fleet had primarily consisted of front-engined Fords. In 1959, the first of 15 Commers was delivered. These were followed by Bedford SBs and Hino RC320Ps. When operations ceased in February 1974, the fleet consisted of 36 buses and six coaches. All passed to the Municipal Tramways Trust.

Depots

In 1970, Bowman's opened a state of the art facility in St Agnes.