In March of 1952, a partnership was entered into between Clyde and Clare Cavanagh and
Wilfred Ryan, with the purchase of three
buses from Kings bus Co. This formed the South and east Kempsey bus service.
Clyde and Clare eventualy purchased the business outright
and began to grow with the purchase of the Stuarts Point service. Growth
continued with the extension of the service into the Burnt Bridge and eventualy the
Dondingalong areas. In approx 1965, the West Kempsey bus service was purchased from
Kings Bus Co.
In approximately 1967 camping tours throughout Australia were
commenced. The growth of this section of the industry continued and charged
into motel accommodated tours throughout Australia. With increased
Government regulation on the travel industry it was necessary to obtain a
travel licence to continue in the business. Increased competition led the
company into the purchase of travel agencies and appointment of agents to
sell the companies tours to the people of the Mid North Coast.
With improvements to the service patronage increased and profits were
reinvested into the company in the purchase of new vehicles. In 1991
the company purchase McKays Bus service and in 1996 purchased Mercury
Roadlines.
In 2001 Cavanaghs expanded into Queensland purchasing Beaudesert Bus Service and
Logan Coaches. With hard work these bus companys have substantialy improved in patronage,
service provision and vehicles. Logan Coaches and Beaudesert Bus Service provide school bus runs,
passenger services and short and long distance charter. Queensland operations now operate up
to 50 buses and coaches.
In 2002 Cavanaghs started Portbus, a small charter company based in Port Maquarie.
Portbus Has grown, handling short and long distance charter, school sport transfers
and day trips and runs a minimum of 12 buses from their Port Maquarie depot at any one time.
In 2004 Cavanaghs purchased South West Rocks Taxi Service which has been a successfull venture now
providing wheel chair equiped maxi taxis to meet the needs of the community.
C.A. & C. Cavanagh Pty Ltd. has continued to grow with hard work and
reinvestment of profit back into the company. The Company now employs
up to 120 employees in Port Macquarie, Kempsey and SE Queensland and operates over 100 buses and coaches.
Depots are at Kempsey, Smithtown, South West Rocks, Port Maquarie, Stuarts Point, Beaudesert(QLD)
and Logan(QLD).