While working as a linesman in country New South Wales, Laurie Norton’s eyes lit up when he stumbled across an abandoned double decker bus in a quarry in Griffith.
That was in 2004 and it would be some years before he completely rebuilt the 1949 Leyland OPD2 bus.
The interior was stripped and Mr Norton has fitted it out with recycled timbers, creating a liveable area downstairs comprising a kitchen with fitted oven, a bathroom with washing machine facilities and comfortable seating area which can double as single bed sleeping.
Upstairs features the main bedroom with recycled timber flooring and a large comfortable slat bed that Mr Norton also made with donated timbers.
He has installed 1000 watts of solar panels on the bus roof and has 480AH battery power fitted, along with a 7KVA generator.
After finishing the project to perfection, he put the bus on the road four years ago to raise money for muscular dystrophy – a group of genetic diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass.
Since he hit the road, Mr Norton has travelled around Australia, clocking up over 26,000 kilometres.
IMAGE: Laurie Norton and Brooke Lumsden outside the coffee bus which has been travelling around Australia raising money for Muscular Dystrophy Australia.
