Royal Automobile Club of Queensland
The Royal Automobile Club of Queensland is a mutual organisation and Queensland largest club, providing services including roadside assistance, insurance, banking and travel to its approximately 1.7 million members.
History
Eighteen motorists formed the Automobile Club of Queensland in 1905 at a meeting of almost all the motorists in Brisbane which was held at the School of Arts, in Ann Street. The club was formed as an advocacy group, styled after the successful Royal Automobile Club of England. Of the eighteen founding members, ten were medical practitioners. Their belief that automobiles could be a reliable means for visiting patients was used to leverage a more positive image of cars in the public consciousness. At the time of formation there were only 16 registered privately owned motor cars in Queensland.In 1921, in recognition of the club's patriotic efforts during World War I, it was given Royal Patronage. In 1925 RACQ Roadside Assistance was born when the Club commissioned two mechanics, George Clark and Eddie Henderson, to patrol the roads in search of disabled vehicles. In the 1970s the club began to expand its services including the formation of RACQ Insurance.
In 2011, following Cyclone Yasi in Northern Queensland and flooding in central and southern Queensland, RACQ Foundation was launched to assist community groups devastated by natural disasters.
RACQ was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame in 2014.
In November 2016, RACQ merged with QT Mutual Bank forming RACQ Bank. In December 2025 terms were agreed, subject to regulatory approval, to sell RACQ Bank to Bendigo Bank.
In late 2019, trials of Australia's first driverless bus were conducted on Karragarra Island with a view to introducing the service to the islands' communities. The trial was conducted by the Redland City Council and the RACQ.
Publications
From 1926 until 1934, Queensland Motorist was the RACQ's in-house magazine. It was succeeded by The Road Ahead.Community and sponsorships
RACQ has also previously sponsored a broad range of events which sought to improve driver skills and promote road safety initiatives including:- The All Schools Pedal Prix.
- RACQ Technology Challenge Maryborough.
- Older People Speak Out, Years Ahead courses.
- The Queensland Road Safety Awards.
- The RACQ Historic Motoring Council Rally.
- The RACQ Insurance International Women's Day Fun Run.
- The Prevent Alcohol and Risk-related Trauma in Youth program run by the Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital.
In 2011 RACQ launched RACQ Foundation to assist community groups to recover from natural disasters and drought. In 2020 the Foundation expanded its remit for a short period to include groups hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2011 the Foundation has awarded more than $9.24 million in grants.
Locations
The RACQ head offices are in Brisbane at Eight Mile Plains and 60 Edward Street, Brisbane in the CBD. The club has numerous offices throughout Queensland.In 2013, RACQ released its Mobile Member Centre a “branch on wheels”, the MMC is used for exhibitions and trade shows, when not needed to assist members following large-scale disasters.
In 2019, RACQ launched the RACQ Mobility Centre of Excellence, the site was previously home to the Mount Cotton Training Centre and has since been utilised as a facility for driver training as well as a research hub for new and emerging vehicle technology. The 45-hectare site features a range of facilities including a road circuit, skid pan, 4WD track and conference spaces and is available for hire by third parties for events and driver training sessions.