Driver Group
Corporate brand
UnclaimedDriver Group is an Australian bus, coach-charter and sightseeing-tour operator based in Melbourne.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Driver Group is an Australian passenger-transport business whose roots extend to a small family bus operation established in Melbourne in 1931. Eric and Reg Driver began by operating two seven-seat Pontiac buses on a route linking Glen Iris railway station with Camberwell. The business expanded with Melbourne's suburban growth, extending service to Chadstone Shopping Centre during the 1960s, and later developed into a broader bus, coach and tourism group. The company was known initially as Driver Brothers and was renamed Driver Bus Lines in 1962. During the late 1960s, Eric Driver's sons Daryl and Gary joined the operation, continuing its family-business character. Driver Bus Lines entered the coach market in 1970 and subsequently expanded its scheduled-route and charter activities through acquisitions. In January 1978 it purchased the Camberwell-to-Box Hill service operated by R. W. Curren. In 1986 it acquired Shave Bus Service and renamed that operation Waverley Transit. Tourism became an increasingly important part of the group. In May 1989 Driver acquired Pioneer Tours Melbourne, a day-sightseeing business, from Pioneer Trailways. The business received the Gray Line Melbourne franchise in 1991 and operated its sightseeing activities under the Pioneer Gray Line name for a period. The Great Sights sightseeing brand was launched in October 1992, at the same time as Driver acquired Melbright Coaches. Driver then extended its tourism presence beyond Victoria by acquiring Great Sights South Pacific, a Sydney tour operator, in June 1994. In December 1996 it purchased Clipper Tours, the Sydney operator of the Gray Line franchise, although that business was later resold in 1998 after the relevant Gray Line operation had been separated. The corporate name Driver Group was adopted in July 1996. Over the following decade, the group expanded its involvement with Gray Line Australia franchises in other Australian capital cities. Its tourism portfolio came to include Great Sights day tours in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, together with Gray Line services in Melbourne, Perth, Cairns, Adelaide, Darwin, Alice Springs and Tasmania. Its charter operation provides services originating in Melbourne and travelling to destinations across Australia. Driver also continued to acquire regional bus operators. In October 2010 it purchased Balnarring Bus Lines, Coolart Bus & Coach, Mawson's Coaches and Old Tyabb Coaches on the Mornington Peninsula, adding 29 buses to its fleet. A major change followed in July 2013, when the group's scheduled-route business was sold to CDC Victoria. The transaction involved five routes and 42 buses; the operation was incorporated into CDC Victoria's Eastrans subsidiary, which was subsequently rebranded CDC Melbourne in 2014. Driver Group therefore continued primarily as a charter, coach and sightseeing operator rather than as a scheduled suburban-route business. In November 2013, operation of Gray Line services in Sydney was sub-licensed to Australia Wide Coaches. Driver Group's branded activities have included Driver Bus Lines, Great Sights, Gray Line Melbourne and Gray Line Australia, while earlier or acquired operating names included Pioneer Tours, Pioneer Gray Line, Melbourne Explorer, Southern Sights, Great Sights South Pacific, Gray Line Sydney, Clipper Tours and Waverley Transit. The group's fleet has traditionally used a white-and-blue livery, while Gray Line coaches have used white, red and blue. The reference material describes the group as operating 148 buses and coaches as of November 2023.
History
Driver Group originated in Melbourne in March 1931, when Eric Driver and Reg Driver constructed two seven-seat Pontiac buses and began a service between Glen Iris railway station and Camberwell. The route was later extended to Chadstone Shopping Centre during the 1960s, reflecting the expansion of Melbourne's suburban transport needs. The business was initially known as Driver Brothers and became Driver Bus Lines in 1962. Eric Driver's sons, Daryl and Gary, joined during the late 1960s. The company entered the coach sector in 1970. Its scheduled-route business expanded in January 1978 through the purchase of the Camberwell-to-Box Hill service from R. W. Curren. In 1986 Driver acquired Shave Bus Service and renamed it Waverley Transit. These developments broadened the business beyond its original local route operation and created a platform for charter and coach activities. Driver expanded into organised sightseeing in 1989 by purchasing Pioneer Tours Melbourne from Pioneer Trailways. In February 1991 it was awarded the Gray Line franchise for Melbourne, and its sightseeing operation was renamed Pioneer Gray Line. The Great Sights sightseeing brand was launched in October 1992, alongside the acquisition of Melbright Coaches. In June 1994 the group purchased Great Sights South Pacific, a Sydney-based tour operator. Driver Bus Lines adopted the name Driver Group in July 1996, formalising the broader scope of the enterprise. The group continued to build its tourism network through acquisitions and franchise relationships. It bought Clipper Tours, the Sydney operator of the Gray Line franchise, in December 1996. After the Gray Line component was separated, Clipper Tours was sold back to Ron Deane in February 1998. During the following decade Driver gradually acquired Gray Line Australia franchises in other capital cities. The group consequently operated or supported sightseeing services under Great Sights and Gray Line names in a number of Australian destinations. In October 2010 Driver acquired four Mornington Peninsula operators: Balnarring Bus Lines, Coolart Bus & Coach, Mawson's Coaches and Old Tyabb Coaches. The acquisitions added 29 buses and strengthened the group's regional and charter presence. Driver's charter business subsequently operated from Melbourne to destinations throughout Australia, while its tourism operations included Great Sights tours in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide and Gray Line tours in Melbourne, Perth, Cairns, Adelaide, Darwin, Alice Springs and Tasmania. The most significant restructuring in the later history covered by the reference material occurred in July 2013, when Driver sold its scheduled-route operation to CDC Victoria. The transaction involved five routes and 42 buses. The acquired operation was integrated into CDC Victoria's Eastrans subsidiary, which was rebranded CDC Melbourne in 2014. This sale reduced Driver Group's direct role in scheduled suburban bus services and left the group focused more heavily on charter, coach and sightseeing activities. In November 2013, operation of Gray Line services in Sydney was sub-licensed to Australia Wide Coaches. The Driver Group identity has been associated with a succession of operating and tourism brands. Current or later-listed brands include Driver Bus Lines, Great Sights, Gray Line Melbourne and Gray Line Australia. Historical names include Driver Brothers, Driver Coaches, Pioneer Tours, Pioneer Gray Line, Melbourne Explorer, Southern Sights, Great Sights South Pacific, Gray Line Sydney, Clipper Tours and Waverley Transit. The group's traditional fleet livery has been white and blue, while Gray Line vehicles have used white, red and blue. The cited reference describes a fleet of 148 buses and coaches in November 2023.
- 2013
Scheduled-route operation sold
[1]Five routes and 42 buses are sold to CDC Victoria.
- 2013
Gray Line Sydney sub-license
[1]Australia Wide Coaches begins operating Gray Line services in Sydney under a sub-license.
- 2010
Mornington Peninsula acquisitions
[1]Four operators are acquired, adding 29 buses to the fleet.
- 1996
Driver Group name adopted
[1]Driver Bus Lines changes its name to Driver Group.
- 1994
Sydney tourism expansion
[1]Driver purchases Great Sights South Pacific, a Sydney tour operator.
- 1992
Great Sights brand launched
[1]Driver launches Great Sights and acquires Melbright Coaches.
- 1991
Gray Line Melbourne franchise awarded
[1]Driver Bus Lines receives the Gray Line franchise for Melbourne and uses the Pioneer Gray Line name for its sightseeing operation.
- 1989
Expansion into Melbourne sightseeing
[1]Driver purchases Pioneer Tours Melbourne from Pioneer Trailways.
- 1986
Acquisition of Shave Bus Service
[1]The acquired operation is renamed Waverley Transit.
- 1970
Entry into the coach market
[1]Driver Bus Lines diversifies from scheduled bus services into coach operations.
Products and positioning
A Melbourne-rooted Australian bus and coach operator combining charter transport with branded sightseeing and tourism services.
Scheduled bus services · 1962
Driver Bus Lines
Driver Bus Lines was the principal operating identity used for the group's Melbourne scheduled bus activities before the corporate name Driver Group was adopted. The business originated with the Glen Iris–Camberwell service and later expanded to other suburban routes, including the Camberwell-to-Box Hill service. The scheduled-route operation was sold to CDC Victoria in 2013.
Sightseeing tours · 1992
Great Sights
Great Sights is Driver Group's sightseeing-tour brand. It was introduced in 1992 and was subsequently associated with day tours in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. The brand formed part of the group's expansion from conventional bus and coach operation into organised tourism.
Sightseeing tours and franchise operations · 1991
Gray Line Australia
Gray Line Australia represents Driver Group's network of Gray Line sightseeing operations and franchises. The group operated or held franchise interests in Melbourne and progressively expanded into other Australian capital cities and tourism destinations, including Perth, Cairns, Adelaide, Darwin, Alice Springs and Tasmania. Sydney operations were sub-licensed to Australia Wide Coaches in 2013.
Coach charter · 1970
Driver Group charter services
The charter division provides bus and coach services originating in Melbourne and travelling to destinations throughout Australia. It is the principal non-scheduled transport activity described for Driver Group after the sale of its scheduled-route business to CDC Victoria.
Brand decisions
2013
Sale of scheduled bus operations to CDC VictoriaM&ABackground
Driver Group operated five scheduled routes with 42 buses as part of its broader bus and coach business.
Action taken
The route-service business was sold to CDC Victoria and integrated into its Eastrans subsidiary.
Aftermath
Eastrans was later rebranded CDC Melbourne, while Driver Group focused on charter, coach and sightseeing operations.
2013
Sub-licensing of Gray Line Sydney operationsStrategyBackground
Driver Group held tourism operations under the Gray Line Australia network, including Sydney services.
Action taken
Operation of Gray Line services in Sydney was sub-licensed to Australia Wide Coaches.
Aftermath
Sydney Gray Line services continued under another operator while Driver retained other tourism and charter activities.
1996
Adoption of the Driver Group corporate nameStrategyBackground
The business had expanded from a Melbourne scheduled bus operator into coach transport, sightseeing and tourism activities.
Action taken
Driver Bus Lines was renamed Driver Group.
Aftermath
The new name reflected the group's wider portfolio of operating companies, brands and franchise interests.
Sources1 sources
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