1966
The journey of Compass Tours began in 1966, when John Burke entered the transport industry by acquiring route 87 Eastwood – West Ryde. A hands-on operator, John drove the single-bus route himself. In 1972, he expanded with the purchase of route 163 Epping – North Epping.
Recognising an opportunity beyond route services, John founded Commodore Coaches, which quickly earned a strong reputation for day charters and long-distance tours across New South Wales. By 1977, the fleet included reliable Ford, Bedford, and Leyland coaches. That year, operations were sold to Cumberland (Todds), marking the end of John’s transport chapter. He later moved into hospitality until his passing in 1982.
