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1956 - 1975 | IN THE BEGINNING...
 Born in Sydney in 1956, Jim Hawkesford, a fourth generation Australian, is a proud Sydneysider. He left school in 1973 and commenced a Management Traineeship with Sydney’s former leading retail and wholesale Travel Organisation - Grace Bros Travel. Within a year he had followed his dream to be part of the tourism transport scene in its infancy and accepted a position with Grenda’s Blue Line Tours based at Kirrawee in Sydney’s southern suburbs. At the time Grenda’s were a successful Melbourne based bus and coach company and had recently moved into Sydney to capture a larger share of what was to become a thriving growth industry. In 1975 Grenda’s Sydney and Melbourne, along with Sydney’s famous Pykes Tours were acquired by TAA (Australia’s domestic government airline) and Mayne Nickless (the giant trucking and transport firm) to form AAT Coachlines to establish a national coach touring and sightseeing organisation.
Jim’s responsibilities involved group sales and marketing and later management of the company’s Sydney Day Touring Division.
1977 | JIM BECOMES MARKETING MANAGER OF CLIPPER TOURS
In 1977 Jim joined a small but well respected family operated local bus and coach company based in North Ryde as Marketing Manager to head up its Coach Touring Division known as Clipper Tours.
1985 - 1994 | JIM FORMS A PARTNERSHIP TO PURCHASE SHAREHOLDING OF CLIPPER TOURS
In 1985 he joined forces with a friend and long term colleague from Melbourne Mr Don Nugent, owner of Rambler Coaches and Panorama Tours to purchase the shareholding of Clipper Tours, a partnership which lasted until 1994. During this time under Jim’s guidance and general management Clipper became a major player in the Sydney Inbound, Charter, Seniors and Day Touring markets and was highly regarded Internationally. The business was purchased in 1994 by a prominent Sydney businessman, Ross Adair, on the proviso that Jim remained as General Manager for a period of three years to steer the business forward. In 1997 the business was successfully sold again and finally it was time for Hawkesford to move on leaving his beloved Clipper behind.Faced with the daunting prospect of having to forge a new career path into new horizons after 23 years of “Coaching”, Hawkesford’s Luxury Coaches was established out of the family owned Hawkesford’s International Pty Ltd entity. An office was opened, vehicles were purchased, staff were employed and former clients were knocking on the door to re-establish the strong relationship that Jim Hawkesford had developed with many of his long-term customers – a relationship that was based on offering hands-on management, personalized service, a strong personal commitment and a quality, consistent product. Before too long Hawkesford’s were beginning to make inroads into the marketplace and the Hawkesford’s branding was having an impact. Additional staff were employed and the fleet was expanded.
1999 - 2000 | JIM ACCEPTS MANAGEMENT ROLE IN THE LEAD UP TO THE SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPICS
In 1999 Jim Hawkesford accepted a Management Consulting role to take on the ailing Westbus Coach business for National Express Group’s Westbus Pty Ltd and to bring in reforms to turn the business around in the lead-up to the Sydney Olympics in September 2000. Westbus Luxury Coaches were one of the major players in the lead up to and during the period of the Olympics and Paralympics, providing luxury coach services to many of the world’s leading corporations. The Sydney Olympics were hailed as “the most successful Games ever” and this period will go into Australia’s history books. Hawkesford’s Coaches also played a strong role in the Olympics transport movement.
2001 | HAWKESFORD BRAND IN FULL SWING
From July 2001 onwards a solid push to strengthen the Hawkesford brand commenced with Jim Hawkesford returning full-time to steer forward his Hawkesford's Luxury Coaches business from its' premises at Concord. In September 2001 (just a week prior to that day unforgettable day of ‘September 11'- when the United States came under Terrorist Attack in which the' World” changed forever) Hawkesford's relocated to Rozelle/White Bay and set up a new office and depot facilility within his friend ‘s Grahame and Les Hobbs Transport complex. Five (5) additional coaches and Two(2) Mercedes Charter Buses were added to the fleet, along with the purchase of a small specialist mini coach business Carina Tours which owned Three (3) Mini Coaches. So Hawkesford's were now up and running with a much expanded fleet and a small but growing band of professional and loyal staff.
2004 - 2005 | DUE TO COMPANY GROWTH A MUCH LARGER DEPOT FACILITY WAS SOUGHT
In late 2004, the company had outgrown the Rozelle property and a much larger depot facility was sought . The company re-developed a former heavy machinery factory, showroom and workshop complex and relocated to Enfield ( South Strathfield ) in January 2005. Several months later, the ailing Clipper Tours Australia brand was purchased from Ron Deane and Jim Hawkesford was back in charge of his much loved Clipper business. Clipper Luxury Coaches returned to the streets of Sydney and in mid July 2005 Hawkesford also purchased Ernie Stafford's Pleasure Tours of Australia business dramatically expanding the fleet size, and also the product line-up of the successful Hawkesford business. In April 2006, Hawkesford's rebranded its Limousine and Hire Car interests to create a fresh new Limousine business under the Blue Diamond Limousines banner.
2006 | NOW ONE OF SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE'S LARGEST CHARTER COMPANIES
In 2006 The Hawkesford Group purchased Bargain Buyers Shopping Tours, SupaSavers Shopping Tours and Deluxe Coachlines Melbourne.
The Hawkesford Group, as it is now known, has quickly developed into being one of Sydney's largest, most professional and diverse Coach, Bus and Limousine companies and employs over 60 staff, operating some 50 vehicles in all the major local and International markets. Our expansion into the Melbourne market will see further growth for the company as our Deluxe fleet continues to grow. Jim Hawkesford is the Managing Director/CEO and Sole Shareholder and Director.
NOW TO THE FUTURE...
The Hawkesford Group continues to gain momentum and with Jim Hawkesford and his team of dedicated and highly professional staff on hand the future looks as bright as ever. More expansion is on the horizon as Hawkesford’s look towards the future. |
