On 31 May 1905, 12 of Queensland's first motorists gathered at the Brisbane School of Arts to form the Automobile Club of Queensland (ACQ).
The majority of the Club's founding members were medical professionals who saw motor vehicles as a faster, more reliable way to visit patients, replacing horse-drawn buggies; 10 out of the 18 were doctors or dentists.
The club’s first president was 43-year-old Dr George Herbert Hopkins, a highly respected surgeon who had moved from the United Kingdom to Queensland in 1896. He was also elected president of the Queensland branch of the British Medical Society.
Another notable founding member was Dr Lilian Cooper, who made history as Queensland’s first registered female doctor in 1891 and the State’s first recorded female motorist.
Initially, the ACQ members would gather for regular ‘runs’ around Brisbane streets, but it didn’t take long before the club began advocating for better road conditions and other issues affecting motorists.
In 1921, the club became the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) after King George V granted it a royal charter, recognising the Club’s patriotic efforts during World War I. RACQ supported the war effort by organising fundraising events and helping to transport returning wounded soldiers to hospitals.
Fast forward to 26 March 1925, and RACQ launched its roadside assistance service.
The Club appointed two mechanics, George Clark and Eddie Henderson, to patrol the north and south sides of Brisbane on motorcycles each Sunday, with the aim of helping stranded motorists.
The service quickly gained popularity and by September of that year, a third patrol officer was added. By November, support was limited to RACQ members due to demand, and five more officers joined the team the following year.
These early patrols carried basic tools, spare parts, fire extinguishers, and first-aid kits.
In late 1927, the service expanded beyond Brisbane after the Toowoomba branch suggested a Statewide, 24-hour roadside assistance program. The idea was approved and by 1929 RACQ had 180 listed garages across Queensland providing assistance to members.
In the 1930s, RACQ took a major step by buying its first motorcycles and sidecars, moving away from the earlier practice of patrol officers using their own motorcycles.
These early patrols carried basic tools, spare parts, fire extinguishers, and first-aid kits.
In late 1927, the service expanded beyond Brisbane after the Toowoomba branch suggested a Statewide, 24-hour roadside assistance program. The idea was approved and by 1929 RACQ had 180 listed garages across Queensland providing assistance to members.
In the 1930s, RACQ took a major step by buying its first motorcycles and sidecars, moving away from the earlier practice of patrol officers using their own motorcycles.
The fleet continued to grow throughout the 1930s, with one of these early motorcycles, a 1937 AJS, now part of RACQ's historic vehicle collection.
As demand for roadside assistance grew, RACQ extended its service hours.
By 1932, roadside assistance was available from 8:30am to 11:30pm, with patrols working shifts every day of the week.
World War II brought its challenges, including a shortage of mechanics and fuel rationing.
Despite fewer vehicles on the roads, demand for roadside assistance remained high due to poor maintenance and a shortage of tyres and parts.
RACQ adapted to the challenge in 1944 and began accepting receipts from unlisted repairers when members couldn’t access approved garages.
After the war, the roadside service continued to grow.
By 1946, uniformed patrols were introduced in Toowoomba and Rockhampton, and by 1947, they expanded to Ipswich and Townsville.
During the late 1940s, RACQ started replacing motorcycles with ex-military Jeeps, which they used into the 1950s.
In 1955, a big leap forward was made with communication when two-way radios were installed in patrol vehicles, allowing officers to communicate directly with despatchers.
By this point, RACQ’s roadside assistance had expanded across Queensland, including Cairns, Mackay, Bundaberg, Maryborough, Nambour, the Gold Coast, and Warwick.
Roadside service took another major step forward in efficiency in 1987 when a computer-aided despatch system was introduced for patrols. The next evolution occurred in 1998 when a 24-hour call centre was opened at Eight Mile Plains.
From those early days, RACQ's roadside assistance service has grown into a vital part of Queensland’s motoring community, continuously developing to meet the needs of motorists.
This was seen most recently in 2023 when RACQ introduced an updated suite of roadside assistance products, catering for everything from e-scooters to large SUVs and caravans.
This was hailed as the biggest development in roadside assistance since George Clark and Eddie Henderson first started patrolling Brisbane’s dusty streets in 1925.
As we look to the future, the legacy of RACQ’s early pioneers continues to drive the evolution of roadside assistance, ensuring that no matter how the world of motoring changes, Queenslanders will always have a trusted partner on the road.
Photos from RACQ archives.
