FlexiRide driver Bill Denny at the Orr St main stop in Yarrawonga Town Centre.
Imagine a bus service that could take you to any one of 73 stops around Yarrawonga or Mulwala, six times a day, and was really cheap.
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In regional Australia, where the lack of public transport is one of the most often cited challenges, such a service would be welcomed with open arms.
It turns out, Yarrawonga/Mulwala has had exactly this service for 12 years, but most people have never heard of it.
The Yarrawonga FlexiRide service was the first of its kind to operate in Victoria when it was introduced in 2013.
It has operated continuously ever since, albeit without the original buses, instead utilising Yarrawonga Taxi’s minibuses.
Down in the depths of the 2025/26 Victorian budget papers is a line which provides undisclosed funding for the service to continue.
In 2020, Ovens Valley MP, Tim McCurdy held a public forum for which he said there was excellent attendance and enthusiasm for a town bus.
From there, he wrote to the Public Transport Minister requesting a meeting between himself, Public Transport Victoria and residents to discuss the issue.
However, the minister ruled out any discussion, indicating that FlexiRide, using the taxi service, was sufficient.
Five years later, the service still exists, without any promotion, advertising or branding on the bus, and the stops outlined on the map at the terminus in Orr St are almost impossible to decipher.
Yarrawonga Taxis operate FlexiRide under a contract with Public Transport Victoria.
Operations manager, Trevor Wood said in May this year, 260 individual fares were counted.
Mr Wood said there was no data as to how many individual people that included, but many of the passengers were regular, repeat users, mostly elderly and very few young people.
The bus leaves Orr St, opposite the Town Hall six times a day during the week and three times on Saturday mornings.
“It’s very rare that there’s no-one on the bus,” Mr Wood said.
“One every couple of days would be empty.
“The biggest difficulty is finding the nearest stop, it’s not very clear on the internet.”
The minibus doesn’t follow a fixed route, but leaves the Orr St stop at fixed times and travels direct to passengers’ chosen stops.
To be picked up from any one of the 73 stops listed, passengers need to call no later than 10 minutes before the scheduled departure from Orr St.
Ride the bus
• Weekday departures from Yarrawonga Town Centre (Orr Street) at 8.50am, 10.20am, 11.50am, 1.20pm, 2.20pm and 3.50pm.
• Saturday morning departures at 8.50am, 10.20am and 11.50am
• Cost is $2.60 for two hours, or $5.20 all day (full fare) or $1.30 for two hours and $2.60 all day (concession).
• To book, call 1300 136 839.
• A list of stops is available at FlexiRide - Public Transport Victoria.
John Carroll: “I can’t say I’ve heard of it. I don’t think I’d use it unless maybe a group of us wanted to go out for lunch.”
Tomasi Mundingi: “No, but I prefer to drive, it’s easier for me to get in the car and go wherever I want, whenever I want.”
Garry and Maureen Hough:“Can’t say either of us have heard of it before … we wouldn’t use it.”
James Carey: Yes, I’ve used it for a few years, it allows me to get around a lot easier.
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