100 years of Canberra Public Transport: 1926-1935
Government-operated public transport commenced in Canberra in July 1926 as the “City Omnibus Service”. During 2026, ACT Bus will be looking back at some of the vehicles which have been used over those years.
The first buses were two Dodge Charabancs which were already owned by the Commonwealth Department of Works used for moving workers between worksites and workers’ camps. They were also employed as school buses, bringing students to Telopea Park School.
New buses were purchased from UK-based makes including the first diesel-powered AEC Regal in 1934.
The following buses entered service between 1926 & 1935:
| Bus model | First used | Number acquired | Withdrawn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge (charabanc) | 1926 | 3 | 1933 |
| AEC Renown 411 | 1926 | 5 | 1936 |
| Bean Empire | 1927 | 4 | 1934 |
| ADC Renown 413 | 1928 | 3 | 1938 |
| Commer | 1933 | 3 | 1948 |
| AEC Regal | 1933 | 8 | unknown |
Images:
Further reading:
- Early History: Part 1 – The Inauguration
- Early History: Part 2 – Expansion in the 1930s and the first diesels