
- Semaphore Road Shoppers Bus.OPS1 Leyland.One of several bought ex Melbourne.At one point there were 2 x OPS1's buses operating this service.
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In the early to mid 1960s my mother and father started up their first bus business.Their business names were:
1)Sellick's Coaches.
2)Bus Fleet Hire Service.
In the 1980s onwards their second hand bus dealers name was:
Sellick of Adelaide.
There is some history of buses here.Here are just some of the buses from those companies.
They were originally based at our family home at Semaphore South,opposite the old entrance to the Fort Glanville Caravan Park in Adelaide's west.We had several buses in that time.There were buses and coaches like OPS1 Leylands,one converted and rebodied by Freighter Lawton,one ex Perth TAA Super White,an ex Hoys of Wangaratta Leyland Tiger Cub coach bodied by Freighter Lawtons and others.We didnt have a lot of buses at the time all at once they except for the OPS1's.
Please note:There were never any records kept in regards to where vehicles were sold/where they came from.
Between my mum and myself we are just going by memory here.If you know where buses ended up please add the information here.Also,if you have photos of any of these vehicles later in live you are welcome to add your photos here too.
Over the years my parents got out of the charter/tours and became bus dealers.They were buying ex STA Adelaide buses from around late 1970s,including Leyland Worlmasters,AEC,Bedfords,Hinos,etc.They also bought ex Education Dept buses,ex TAA buses from Melbourne and Sydney,Ansett buses and Qantas too.They sold Australia wide.They retired in 1997. My father,Jack Sellick died in March 1999.My mum is still alive.
There are many people I'd like to dedicate this post to:
To all the bus companies who bought buses my from my mum and dad.Thank you.
To their great business friends who looked after mum and dad,thank you to each of you,including:
Warren Dewey,Arthur Rintoule of Nhill-Victoria,Ross Ashby and son Keith Ashby,The Late Len Johnson and all the staff at Associated Tourist Services,Glenn Miller,Barry Williamson,Graham Weekly(PMC Adelaide),The Late Paul Hart
(STA Adelaide),Theo Heuft-mechanic and spray painter late 1990s onwards,and Brian Bart of Bart's Coaches.
Our great friend and Spray Painter John Mitkutta (William St,Cavan,SA)who was a brilliant spray painter and had been the spray painter who had contributed to the success of the company from late 1970s right up to 1990s,Thanks John.Great work.He would have buses completed within a few days.A great achievement in high standards and quality,etc.Between John Mitkutta and Jack Sellick they were able to create beautiful liveries,some of them shown in the following photos.
To Mike and Sharon from Mikron Auto Electrical,Peter Towler,Paul and Brenda Hurst.To Geoff and Elizabeth Edmonds of Murray Bridge,Brian Densley of Riverside Bus Services in Murray Bridge.To the staff at "Australasian Bus And Coach "magazine(Publishing Services, 244 Pauls Tce,Fortitude Valley,QLD).The staff at "Truck & Bus" magazine.
Many thanks to our friends there for looking after Jack over the years.So,to all the people who are/were in the bus industry throughout the years while mum and dad were in business,on behalf of our families,thank you to all of you.I will still be adding names here.I will edit this post as I add more.If you know/knew these people please tell them about this post.
In regards to the "Semaphore Road Shopper's Bus".
It was a bus service that had 2 starting points.1 was Victoria Road Osborne.The other on Bower Road Semaphore Park.The Victoria Road service travelled along Victoria road,turned right into Strathfield Tce,left turn into Military Road,until it arrived opposite Semaphore "Woolworths".The service continued to Bower Road,turned left.It would reach the terminus out the front of the "Bower Cottages" near Bartley Tce.The service then travelled West up Bower Road to Military Road until it arrived alongside Woolworths then headed north along Military Road,Strathfield Tce,Victoria Road terminus at Osborne.This bus service helped people so they could go to Semaphore Road shopping precinct then return home.It was a popular service.I dont know why the service ended.There wasnt a replacement service.The service was funded by Semaphore traders at the time.It seems the traders didnt want to pay for the bus service and it was cancelled.