Buses and Coaches (continued)

The bus services in major metropolitan cities have played a major role in the development of the middle and outer suburbs because they can adequately service low density areas in a way that fixed track vehicles cannot.

In 85 years, the motor car, truck and bus vehicles have grown from a few horseless carriages of academic interest to a torrent of vehicles with annual registration approaching 700,000 in 1985 and with direct employment in manufacturing of 150,000 people and in distribution of the order of another 80,000.

The Australian road system is vastly improved with 2,440,000 km of sealed surfaces and transport by road is by far the greatest carrier of goods in terms of tonnes consigned. About 75 per cent of all freight is carried by road.

The motor car has changed the development of our cities, the movement of people and our lifestyle. Motor car imports either in the form of complete cars, or parts, is a major drain on Australia's foreign exchange and the taxes generated by levies on fuel, registration, sales tax and duties, is an important source of revenue for the Government. The vehicle industry has investments of several hundred million dollars and vehicle finance is a large business in itself. The whole network of dealers' franchises throughout Australia provides a retail outlet for sales service and parts for customers and maintains the fleets of vehicles on Australian roads.

As the internal combustion engine became more reliable, it was adapted to provide propeller traction for heavier than air machines and so emerged the era of the aeroplane. This new dimension in mobility was to conquer distance and shorten communication in a dramatic way.

The following section describes the rapid technological advances in aviation and the part played by Australians in establishing air travel as another major part of Australia's transport system.

Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering