49-598: Custom Denning (previously Custom Bus and Custom Coaches ) is an Australian bus body builder based in St Marys, New South Wales . In 1935, Stanley Hillsdon founded Cycle Components Manufacturing Company (CCMC) in Guildford , having been involved in manufacture of bicycles since 1911. In 1946 the company won the contract to manufacture reversible seats for Sydney 's tram system . In 1955, CCMC successfully tendered to body 125 single deck Leyland Royal Tiger Worldmaster buses for
98-456: A Volvo B8RLE Custom CB80 for State Transit built in April 2020. The Custom Denning Element is an electric bus that can travel up to 500 kilometres, a typical range from a full charge and can seat up to 45 passengers. It features high-tech battery with powerful LED lights and driver assistance technologies and with lightweight engineered frame. It has a fully low-floor design, common in buses made for
147-411: A 5-cylinder OM602LA (2874 cm ) and 4-cylinder OM904LA (4250 cm ), turbocharged and intercooled diesel engine. From September 2000, Vario 618D/818D models were equipped with a 4.2-liter turbo diesel engine with intercooler and direct injection with an output of 136 or 150 hp and torque of 520 or 580 Nm, respectively. The most powerful was a 177 hp, 675Nm engine. With the introduction of
196-633: A convoy of vintage automobiles, walking groups of local organisations, and marching bands. In addition, the St Marys Corner Community and Cultural Precinct ('The Corner') is situated on the corner of the Great Western Highway and Mamre Road, just beyond Queen Street. The Corner is the site of several facilities including an arts and crafts studio, community centre and hall, the Nepean Multicultural Access organization, and
245-635: A demonstration model already operating for it. Custom Denning has plans to launch the Element electric bus in the United Kingdom, build a left-hand drive model for continental European countries like France and Denmark, and possibly launch the Element model in North America. Custom Denning is also planning a hydrogen fuel-cell powered variant, dubbed the Element H2. St Marys, New South Wales St Marys
294-549: A great-nephew of Hillsdon by marriage, became CEO of the company. He, his brother Paul and a long-term business partner, Chris Absalom, completed the purchase of the business from Jack Violet in 2005. In 2008, production exceeded 400 buses per year, and by 2009 the total number of buses bodied had exceeded 15,000. In May 2010, the Sydney plant moved to new premises in Villawood and in June 2012
343-456: A major presence with wreckers, multiple kinds of workshops (paint, body, tyre and auto, brake and clutch, electrical, etc.), and car dealerships operating in the area. Waste treatment facilities also occupy north St Marys, with several major sites as follows: The commercial area in the southern half of St Marys is primarily on and around Queen Street, with a collection of both franchised and independently-owned establishments lining both sides of
392-452: A single level with easily accessible ground level parking. Within the shopping centre is a community noticeboard, in the corridor opposite the centre management office. Station Plaza was a shopping centre which included a Coles Supermarket, around 16 specialty stores, and an undercover car park. It was located on Phillip Street opposite the St Marys train station and bus depot. The plaza and carpark were demolished in early 2023 to clear
441-547: Is a suburb in western Sydney , in the state of New South Wales , Australia . It is 45 kilometres (28 mi)west of the Sydney central business district , in the local government area of the City of Penrith . St Marys sits between South Creek which forms the western boundary and Ropes Creek , its eastern boundary. The Western train line splits the suburb into northern and southern halves. The northern portion of St Marys/Dunheved
490-427: Is abundant with trade (especially automotive), manufacturing, waste processing, and storage centres, yet also contains a leagues club. In contrast, the southern end of St Marys is a commercial and residential hub, with Queen Street functioning as the 'main street' retail district alongside separate shopping centres, a town square, a swimming pool, community centres, sports fields, and schools. The township of St Marys
539-803: Is heritage-listed. Circa 1829–32, the Lethbridge family built Werrington House just north of St Marys. It was based on the family home in Cornwall . It is one of the most significant colonial homes in New South Wales and is heritage-listed. St Marys is now the home of the South Creek/St Marys Outpost sub-branc of the Vietnam Veterans Association and the St Marys & District Historical Society Inc. The Municipality of St Marys
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#1732869671756588-566: Is home to several activity and leisure centres, including: Additionally, the nearby Troy Adams Archery Field in the adjacent suburb of Werrington is used by the Penrith City Archers club, which caters to newcomers and archers of varying skill levels. The M4 Motorway sits along the southern boundary with entrance and exit ramps to Mamre Road leading to St Marys Town Centre (North) and the St Clair estate (South). The Great Western Highway
637-437: Is the major East–west road in the suburb. Sydney Street and Marsden Road are on the northern and southern boundaries. St Marys is also serviced by a regular passenger rail service along the main western railway line with St Marys station forming a major local public transport hub combining rail, bus and taxi services. Dunheved is a major industrial, and commercial centre to the north. Between March 1942 and March 1986 Dunheved
686-554: The PMC Australia business following the collapse of Clifford Corporation . Australian Bus Manufacturing was rebranded as Custom Coaches in 2004. In 1998, Custom Coaches began bodying buses for the State Transit Authority after a break of over 37 years. By April 2013, over 1,280 had been bodied for the government operator. In late 2001, Custom Care was established as a bus refurbishment operation. In 2002, Mark Burgess,
735-601: The church of the same name in Cornwall . The church is situated on Magdalene Street between the Great Western Highway and King Street. The church foundation stone was laid on 22 November 1837 by Bishop Broughton, and the cathedral, along with being heritage-listed, is one of the oldest churches in New South Wales that still has regular services. Internees in the church cemetery include the wife of Philip Gidley King , Governor of New South Wales , plus numerous members of
784-504: The 1970s. In 1988, CCMC purchased WA Newnham & Sons with the business renamed Newnham Custom. In 1995, a plant was opened at Arundel on the Gold Coast . Newnham Custom closed in 2001 with production transferred to Adelaide. In 2000, Australian Bus Manufacturing (ABM) in Adelaide was purchased. It had been formed in 1999 when a consortium of CCMC, Jim Bosnjak and John Hewson purchased
833-548: The ABM CB64A, but only found in articulated form. State Transit also bought a large number of CB60 bodied Volvo B12BLE vehicles, including several articulated vehicles. The Custom CB60 CMAX was released in 2007, first deliveries going to Busways Western Sydney on Scania K230UB Euro 3 chassis. The original CB60 ended production around 2008. The CB60 Evo II was introduced in 2005 for State Transit on Volvo B12BLE Euro 5 chassis. The Evo II featured weight reductions compared to
882-593: The CCMC initials. In May 1981, the Smithfield Bus & Coach Works business was purchased from the Bosnjak family. Custom Coaches concentrated on bodying buses for the private sector. In 1967, CCMC entered into an agreement with Melbourne bodybuilder WA Newnham & Sons for CCMC to provide frames and other components. CCMC also supplied components to Brisbane bodybuilder Watt Brothers in the 1960s and Perth 's Howard Porter in
931-700: The Custom Denning brand, the Element, which is now in production. Source: The Custom CB20 was similar in design to a minivan, paired exclusively with the Mercedes-Benz 815DL chassis. Busabout had two examples in its fleet, but are now withdrawn. The Custom CB30 was available as both an 11m midibus and a 12.5m full sized bus. CDC NSW has a sizeable fleet of MAN 12.220 midibuses with CB30 bodywork while Transdev Melbourne had many full size CB30s with MAN chassis. The CB20 and CB30 ceased production around 2007 with no replacement vehicles provided. The Custom CB50
980-582: The Euro 4 emission standards, the Vario began to be equipped with OM904LA series BlueTec 4 turbocharged and intercooled engine with working volume of 4250 cm and a power of 129, 156 or 177 hp. Set of new manual gearboxes, new automatic gearbox and some optional equipment was added to portfolio. Two types of gearboxes were available, a 5-speed manual (later 6-speed) and on buses, an Allison AT 545 4-speed automatic (later an Allison LCT 1000 5-speed). Maximum payload
1029-671: The European market. It is a Transport for NSW Panel 3 approved bus and is manufactured in St Marys. Following trials, the first 6 Elements entered service with Busways in late 2021, operating around Penrith . The State Transit Authority then placed an order for 10 vehicles to be delivered from December 2021 to March 2022 out of Waverley Bus Depot . Transport for NSW placed an order for 79 vehicles in 2022, which would operate under Transit Systems in Sydney's Inner West . The first Elements to operate outside of NSW entered service with Donric & Sunbury Bus Service rolled out in mid-2022, with
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#17328696717561078-454: The King family. The land was donated by King's son and the bricks were made on his estate. The nearby King, Gidley and Lethbridge streets were named after various members of the King family. The site is believed to have been chosen by the mother of Phillip Parker King . The property had been acquired from John Oxley in 1828 by King, the original grant having been made in 1823. Other land grants in
1127-472: The NSW Department of Government Transport. In May 1956, Jack Violet, Hillsdon's nephew by marriage, was employed as Bus Divisional Manager to oversee operations. In April 1958, CCMC bodied their first bus for a private operator, a Leyland Comet for Rowes Bus Service . Apart from six MAN SL200 and SG192s bodied for ACTION in 1982/82 as part of a contracted included when Smithfield Bus & Coach Works
1176-477: The Ropes Crossing estate), nothing remains of this branch line beyond Christie Street. 33°45′39″S 150°46′39″E / 33.7607°S 150.7774°E / -33.7607; 150.7774 Mercedes-Benz Vario The Mercedes-Benz Vario (model designation BM667/668/670 ) is a full-size commercial heavy van and medium duty truck manufactured by Mercedes-Benz between 1996 and 2013. The Vario
1225-452: The area included those to Anna Josepha King in 1807 ( Dunheved ), Samuel Marsden ( Mamre ), and Mary Putland ( Frogmore ). The area was first called South Creek because European settlement was originally centred along the banks of the creek. The land grants became working holdings because of the permanent water supply. The rich alluvial soil along the banks of the creek ensured an expanding agricultural community and its location on what
1274-506: The company was purchased by British bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis . Custom Coaches was placed in administration in May 2014. On 15 August 2014, the business was purchased back by Mark Burgess and Allegro Funds and the company was renamed Custom Bus. The Royal Park, South Australia plant closed down in September 2014. In February 2018, Custom Bus was again placed in administration, resulting in
1323-469: The famous mutiny in 1789). Closer settlement of the area was made possible when in 1842 part of the O’Connell Estate was subdivided. St Marys has a long and rich industrial and agricultural history, including tanneries and munitions formerly operated by Australian Defence Industries. Mamre , situated on Mamre Road, was built c.1830 for Samuel Marsden . It is a two-storey Georgian home that
1372-796: The former site of the local council chambers (now relocated to St Marys Library). The former council chamber building at St Marys Corner now houses the St Marys & District Historical Society, which acts as the suburb's museum; it contains numerous photographs, displays, and artifacts that depict life in St Marys since the 19th century. The society itself is volunteer-run and open to the public on certain days or by appointment. The Nepean Multicultural Access centre provides an assortment of community and social services, particularly for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse demographics. The centre also holds scheduled activities including English conversation classes, indoor boules, sewing & needlework, pottery, painting, and gentle exercise sessions. St Marys
1421-533: The land for the new Metro Station as part of the Aerotropolis and Metro line development plan. St Marys Hotel is located on Queen Street. The hotel opened in 1955 and was originally the St Marys Rex Hotel. The Wagon Wheel Hotel is another local pub/accommodation and derives its name from 'Bennet's Coach & Waggon Works', the business that was operated by brothers George T and James Jr. Bennet and which
1470-512: The late 90s', then to 'King of the Mountain' in 2006, and finally to 'The Wagon Wheel Hotel' which it is currently known as. On the north side of St Marys is the Holiday Inn, which has a modern design and is adjacent to the St Marys leagues club. There is a small arts scene in St Marys, with sections of Queen Street being adorned in murals designed by independent artists, likely commissioned by
1519-482: The local council. Many of these can be viewed on a single walking route or 'street art trail'. Open-air concerts, holiday events, and family-friendly activities are often held in Coachmans park, around the middle of Queen Street. During the annual Spring Festival, Queen Street itself is cordoned off from traffic to allow pedestrians to freely roam the setups along the street, where a parade also takes place that includes
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1568-547: The original CB60 as well as new headlight styling, a slightly modified rear and minor interior changes. The CB60 Evo II is slightly taller than the original CB60. With the introduction of the Custom CB80, the CB60 Evo II ceased production in 2009, being one of Custom's most popular bodies. The Custom CB80 was first revealed to the public in 2009 as a demonstrator vehicle on Mercedes O500LE chassis, which visited various depots. It
1617-469: The original CB80. It came with LED destination displays by default, had improved stop bells (the ones on the original CB80 were notorious for malfunctioning) and other minor differences. The first CB80 Series 2 vehicles were delivered to State Transit in 2017 on Volvo B7RLE Euro 5 chassis. The CB80 Series 2 ceased production in 2019, being replaced by the Custom Endeavour. The final CB80 was 3120 ST,
1666-632: The public on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm in the Community Centre complex located on Mamre Road on the southern side of the Great Western Highway. St Marys has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: According to the 2021 census , there were 13,256 people in St Marys. The northern half of St Marys, demarcated by the train line , is the site of numerous industrial and trade businesses, along with smaller specialist enterprises, most of which are situated alongside or branch from Glossop and Forrester roads. The automotive industry has
1715-427: The sacking of 122 staff. The following month, Dunn Group purchased Custom Bus, and in May 2018, relocated its factory to St Marys . A year later, in June 2019, Custom Bus completed its 100th bus under Dunn ownership. In September 2019, Custom Bus acquired Denning Manufacturing , but the latter's branding and operations will be retained. In February 2021, they announced the production of their first electric bus under
1764-497: The thoroughfare. There are also some businesses along Railway Street adjacent to the southern side of train station, and a few along the Great Western Highway such as Aldi, Dominoes, a medical center, and the St Marys Band Club. St Marys Village Shopping Centre is located on Charles Hackett Drive. This sub-regional centre includes Woolworths , Target and over 40 specialty stores. The centre provides convenient shopping over
1813-525: Was 4.4 tons with a load volume of 17.4 cubic meters. A 4x4 model was also available. All models had a suspension on parabolic leaf springs, all ventilated disc brakes and power steering. On 27 September 2013, the last Vario rolled off the production line in Ludwigsfelde . Between 1996 and 2013, 90,743 units were manufactured. The Vario was succeeded in Daimler Trucks ' model range by heavier versions of
1862-417: Was designed using 3D modelling. It is still Custom's lightest bus body and has lightweight plastic ducting. Composite materials are used extensively in the bus. It also has several innovative features such as the wireless stop bells, front wheel hump design to maximise seating space and the positioning of the rear engine grilles to maximise advertising space. The CB80 Series 2 brought a range of improvements to
1911-502: Was first known as South Creek. The Bennett coach and wagon works manufactured horse-drawn wagons to meet the growing demand for transport in Sydney. There are currently three such wagons on display, each in its own enclosure, at South Creek Park (on the northern side of the Great Western Hwy, east of South Creek). The suburb is named after the parish church of St Mary Magdalene, which was built between 1837 and 1840 and modeled after
1960-628: Was in production from 1999-2006, replacing the Custom CB30 and the Custom Coaches 550 and being succeeded by the Custom CB60. There were two variants, the high floor CB50 ordered in small numbers by several operators and the low floor CB50HCL which was more popular, with Premier Motor Service ordering 10 on Volvo B7RLE chassis. The CB50HCL had a window line similar to the Bustech VST . The CB60
2009-497: Was launched in 1996 as a facelifted version of the Mercedes-Benz T2 . The bodyshell remained relatively unchanged throughout its 17-year production life. The Vario proved a popular base chassis for trucks , minibuses and mini- coaches . When new regulations required disabled access, a model with a wheelchair lift was made available. The Vario was fitted with several types of Mercedes-Benz engines. Pre-2000 vehicles used
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2058-518: Was proclaimed on 3 March 1890, and the election of the first council was held in May 1890. The council was amalgamated with the Municipality of Penrith on 1 January 1949. The first Mayor was William Garner, and the last mayor was J J Blair (1948). There is a branch office of the Penrith City Council on Queen Street along with a library. The St Marys & District Historical Society is open to
2107-502: Was produced between 1999 and 2009, succeeding the Custom Coaches 550 and being replaced by the CB80. Some of the first CB60s were produced by ABM in 1999 for Torrens Transit on MAN NL202 chassis, followed by many other examples. ABM produced many variants, the ABM CB62A was a CB60 with modified rear with Mercedes-Benz Citaro headlights and a modified front destination board mounting. The ABM CB64A
2156-640: Was purchased and 19 Scania K112TR coaches bodied for the State Rail Authority in 1985/86, CCMC built bodies exclusively for private operators after the completion of the Leyland Worldmaster contract for the next 37 years. In 1962, control of CCMC passed from Hillsdon to Violet. At some point, the business was renamed Custom Coaches Manufacturing Company, upon the suggestion of Kathleen Metcalfe, sister-in-law of Violet and niece of Hillsdon and wife of Ray Metcalfe, another employee, in order to maintain
2205-462: Was served by a branch rail line that left the main western line approximately 200 metres west of St Marys station as part of the Ropes Creek branch line that was constructed to serve the munitions works formerly operated by Australian Defence Industries . While the rail infrastructure was left in place for many years after the closure, other than Dunheved Station platform and Ropes Creek Station (within
2254-554: Was similar but with the CB60 headlights while the ABM CB60A was similar to the standard CB60. Custom Coaches modified the CB60 in a similar way to the ABM CB62A for State Transit Authority in 1999 for their Custom Citaro vehicles (on Mercedes O405NH CNG chassis), but with the standard CB60 rear. The Custom CB60 Combo was introduced after Custom Coaches dropped the ABM branding. It is the same as
2303-412: Was situated near Queen Street from 1875 until its closure in 1920 (or 1858-1954 depending on the source). Although initially named 'The Waggon Wheel' from its establishment in 1859 by James William Bennet (the father of George T and James Jr.), the hotel was renamed after the first world war to 'The Park View', but reverted back to 'The Waggon Wheel' in 1959. The name again changed back to 'Park View' in
2352-495: Was supplied by Mercedes to State Transit as a replacement unit after a Mercedes O500LE CNG Custom Coaches CB60 Evo II was destroyed by fire near Hillsdale. Following privatisation, the demonstrator is now M/O 4878 with Transdev John Holland Buses . State Transit was the first operator to order the CB80, a batch of 100 on Scania K280UB chassis were delivered in 2011. All vehicles are dual door and in Transport for NSW livery. The CB80
2401-519: Was then called the Great Western Road, later renamed to the Great Western Highway, meant that it became a convenient staging post. The name St Marys was first used when the St Mary's Post Office was opened on 1 October 1840. The township formed part of a grant to Mary Putland (later married Sir Maurice O'Connell), the daughter of Governor William Bligh (former master of HMS Bounty , during
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