It was a popular service, operating buses from Kangaroo Flat, Eaglehawk and Long Gully into Bendigo.

The V/Line contracts were sold to Christian’s in 1995, but Kangaroo Flat Bus Lines continued to operate chartered services. Today, the company trades as Bendigo Coachlines.

Former drivers, mechanics, cooks and office staff relived the golden years of the Kangaroo Flat Bus Lines at a reunion on the weekend, attended by more than 80 people from across the country.

George Dawson said it was pleasing to catch up with old employees and to share photographs from the company’s history.

“It’s been a long time since many of us had seen each other,” he said.

“One of our old drivers suggested it would be great to get everyone together again, so we organised it from there. The biggest job was tracking everyone down.

“We had albums with photographs from as far back as 40 years ago.”

Kangaroo Flat Bus Lines was formed in 1959 and picked passengers up between Kangaroo Flat and Golden Square, where the tram line terminated.

When the tram service was closed in 1972, Kangaroo Flat Bus Lines were able to expand their services and purchased contracts for Eaglehawk and Long Gully. Walkers Bus Service covered the other half of Bendigo.

It was an arrangement that continued for 23 years, when Christian’s purchased the contracts from Kangaroo Flat Bus Lines. Christian’s then acquired Walkers in 2009.