This vehicle was one of the last vehicles purchased new by legendary Queensland operator, Skennar’s Coaches. Proprietor Clarrie Skennar is a huge part of Queensland’s transport heritage having pioneered and operated long distance passenger services for over three decades between June 1959 and March 1992. At their peak, Skennar’s Coaches operated coach services between Brisbane and Charleville, Gold Coast, Moree, Mt Isa, Sunshine Coast, Sydney, Tenterfield, Toowoomba, and Warwick. Clarrie’s affinity with International vehicles came from his time carrying goods between Brisbane and Tweed Heads under the name of Cunningham’s Transport.
This vehicle is of all-Queensland construction comprising an International chassis built at Rocklea, with a coach body built by Gamer, Brewer and Winter (GBW) at Archerfield. The vehicle was GBW’s 51st new build and was completed on 15 December 1985, seating 53 passengers. Known as ‘PMG’ in the Skennar’s fleet because of its registration number, it was the third last of 23 GBW-bodied International coaches purchased new by Clarrie Skennar between 1971 and 1987.
PMG was assigned to operate the Brisbane to Gold Coast run from new, and remained under Skennar’s ownership until March 1992 when it was sold to Crisps Coaches at Stanthorpe with the Brisbane to Moree and Toowoomba to Tenterfield passenger services. This marked the end of an era as Clarrie Skennar retired from the bus industry after over 30 years of service.
The vehicle spent the majority of its operational life under Crisp ownership, largely operating the former Skennar’s route services. In 2006, the vehicle was re-painted by Barrie Watt into Crisps’ all-over blue livery as part of a frame inspection prior to its 21st birthday. PMG was later withdrawn from revenue service at 29 years of age in 2014 and traded to BCI on a new bus.
In August 2014, the vehicle was sold to Ken and Dot Sims of Sims Coaches in Devonport, Tasmania. However, the vehicle never returned to revenue service and was instead stored unregistered for almost a decade. In November 2023, QOCS acquired the coach from the Sims family for preservation and it was swiftly relocated from Tasmania to Queensland by industry stalwart Stan Biega.
Vehicle Specifications
| Year | 1985 |
| Chassis | International Saloon Coach |
| Engine | Detroit Diesel 8v92 6 cylinder engine |
| Transmission | Eaton-Fuller 5 speed overdrive ‘crashbox’ |
| Brakes | Front axle: Rockwell 6 inch s-cam full air Drive axle: Rockwell 7 inch s-cam full air/spring brakes Tag axle: Eaton 7 inch s-cam full air/spring brakes |
| Steering | Power steering |
| Body | Gamer, Brewer and Winter (GBW) Archerfield, Queensland |
| Construction | Tubular steel frame, fibreglass and stretch panels and stainless steel skirt panels |
| Colour | Odina blue and india white |
| Seating | 53 passengers |
| In Service in Queensland | December 1985 to 2014 |
