Buntine’s became an outback legend whose story began with a contract won by The Territory Transport Association which became Coordinated Road and Rail Freight Service (Co-ord), for the purpose of carting rail freight between Alice Springs and Larrimah Rail terminal, 180km south of Katherine, as well as to Darwin and Mt. Isa.

In 1954, Noel Buntine and John Ryan gained access to this Co-ord contract through their purchase of an Overland Transport which contained a Co-ord share, and so began Buntine’s first transport company.

In 1957, Buntines traded one of their Fodens on a Mack B61 and this was the