Did The Route 440 Head Down Starke Street?

[Bus 400]

On a recent journey through Holt I was advised of another special peg, this one is located on Starke Street near the Kingsford Smith School. Only thing is that is appears to read "Route 440 Only", now I can work out that 3 digit route numbers through Belconnen started with Network 1978 (ie the opening of Belconnen Interchange). However the only route I can find going through this part of Starke Street is Route 450. So who knows anything about Route 440?

[Buzz Killington]

I'm glad you asked! Here's the route directions courtesy of a July 1977 timetable (The left and rights aren't mentioned but someone familiar with the area can feel free to add those)


Route 440 - Latham to Melba via Kippax Centre and Charnwood Shops

Dalley Cres / Macrossan Cres (Northern End) / Dalley Cres / Onslow St / O'Loghlen St / Southern Cross Dr / Starke St / Hardwick Cres / Kippax Centre / Hardwick Cres / Starke St / Beaurepaire Cres / Southern Cross Dr / O'Reilly St / Osburn Dr / Archdall St / Handcock Cr / Florey Dr / Lhotsky St / Charnwood Shops / Tillyard Dr / Ginninderra Dr / Companion Cr / Kingsford Smith Dr / Verbrugghen St / Conley Dr

It appears to have been a daytime only service. The first bus departed both Latham and Melba at 9.30am and operated half-hourly until 2.30pm. The route took approximately 25 minutes.

[Irisbus Rider]

Ah, the mystery of this peg has been solved! I first noticed this some time ago, good to see it's history explained. A very interesting run too, and quite a frequency to match. Thanks for the info, Buzz.

[Buzz Killington]

Didn't realise I actually had the scan of this timetable in the Gallery:

[Bus 400]

I found the only other peg to mention the Route 440. It at Beaurepair 7 stop. That is the spelling on the stop.

There is also a turn around/terminus thing at the end of Conley Drive in Melba.

[Barry Drive]

There is also a turn around/terminus thing at the end of Conley Drive in Melba.

... which was built in the 1980s.

[Bus 400]

Which would of been used by Network 1982 Route 419.
So how far away was Melba Health Centre from this turn around?

[The Love Guru]

It was pretty much directly opposite the high school

[Barry Drive]

Which would of [sic] been used by Network 1982 Route 419.

It wasn't. Turn around wasn't built until 1985-1986 ish. Most likely that 419 used Melba High School, but I'm not certain.

[Bus 400]

This is what the peg at Bus stop Beaurepair Cr 7 looks like:


(Shelter side)


(Roadside)


(Shelter side)