The John A Gilbert group was founded in March 1926 by John A Gilbert as Reo Motors, being renamed in 1951. Initially a motor dealer, in 1941 it diversified into operating bus services. Its first operation was in Parkes followed by Bathurst, Dubbo, Goulburn, Mittagong, Orange and Tamworth. It also operated services in Sydney with suburban companies in Bronte, Ramsgate and Matraville. Most of these were sold over the years, with only Mittagong, Orange and Tamworth remaining by 1980. From 1954 until 1982 it was listed on the Sydney Stock Exchange.