Royal Automobile Club of Victoria
Motoring club in Victoria, Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria, known as RACV, is a motoring club and mutual organisation based in Melbourne, Victoria and established in 1903.
| |
| Formation | 1903 |
|---|---|
| Type | Roadside assistance, insurance, resorts, leisure, solar, home trades |
| Headquarters | Bourke Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Location | |
| Members | 2.29 million (2025) |
President and chairman | Greg Robinson |
Key people | Neil Taylor, Managing Director and CEO |
| Revenue | $1 billion Australian dollar (2025) |
| Staff | 4,000+ |
| Website | www.racv.com.au |
RACV provides emergency roadside assistance, car loans, and trade services and distributes vehicle insurance and home insurance underwritten by multinational Insurance Australia Group (IAG),[1] and distributes travel insurance issued by multinational Tokio Marine. The organisation operates ten properties across Victoria, Queensland, and Tasmania, and includes two clubs with locations in Melbourne and Healesville.[2]
History
The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria was founded on 9 December 1903 at the Port Phillip Club Hotel.[3] The meeting was called by Syd Day, Henry James and James G. Coleman.[4] At the time of the Club's establishment, there were 56 members, roughly equivalent to the number of cars in Melbourne at the time[3]. Henry James Joseph "Harry" Maddox (1862–1937)[5] was elected as its first President, and H.B. "Harry" James, its first secretary.
RACV’s founding objectives was as a social club for car and motorcycle owners and enthusiasts. The Club also aimed to influence the formation of fair driving regulations, advocating for motorists' interests and encouraging road improvement.[6]
It held its first car rally at Aspendale Racecourse in 1904.[7][8][9][10] In 1916, the club received the approval of King George V to prefix the title "Royal" to its name.[11][12]
From 1907, the club issued driving certificates to competent drivers aged 16 and over, predating Victoria's 1910 legal requirement for proof of driving ability.[13]
It is an unlisted public company, limited by guarantee, and headed by a board of directors consisting of eleven independent non-executive directors and a managing director and CEO.[14] The registered office is located in the Melbourne central business district.
Services and products
RACV provides servicing including emergency roadside assistance, motor insurance, home insurance, car loans, and trade services.[1][13] RACV's emergency roadside assistance service started in November 1924 with four mechanics on BSA motorcycles patrolling the main traffic routes of Melbourne.[15]
RACV Insurance was established in 1970, initially offering motor insurance products.[16] Home insurance operations commenced in1990, providing policies for homeowners, renters and landlords.[16]
RACV established a distribution relationship and underwriting joint venture with Insurance Australia Group (IAG) in 1999. Under this arrangement, IAG's short tail personal insurance products are distributed in Victoria under the RACV brand.[17]
RACV established solar installation services in 2017 called RACV Solar. In 2019, the organisation acquired Gippsland Solar, a solar installation company based in the Latrobe Valley [18]. According to the Bellarine Times, in 2021, RACV expanded the solar business to Ocean Grove, acquiring Great Ocean Solar and Electrical[19]. Energy retail services commenced in 2022.[20] In 2023, RACV acquired Bendigo-based solar retailer, Cola Solar.[21]
Through Home Trades Hub Australia (HTHA), established in August 2020, the organisation provides trade services including plumbing, electrical work, and locksmith services.[22] HTHA operates nationally using a network of tradespeople.[22]
Resorts and Clubs
RACV operates ten properties across Australia. Five resorts feature 18-hole golf courses: Cape Schanck, Torquay, Goldfields and Healesville Country Club & Resort in Victoria, and Royal Pines Resort in Queensland.[2]
- RACV Cape Schanck Resort
- RACV Torquay Resort
- RACV Inverloch Resort
- RACV Goldfields Resort
- RACV Cobram Resort
- RACV Healesville Country Club & Resort[23]
- RACV Noosa Resort
- RACV Hobart Hotel
The RACV Club operates two locations: the Melbourne City Club in the Melbourne central business district and the Healesville Country Club & Resort.[2]
Publications
RACV's first magazine was published in 1922 as a supplement to The Australian Motorist.[24] It was launched as a stand-alone publication in the mid-1920s called the Royal Auto Journal.[25]
The Radiator, a newspaper-format publication, was introduced in the mid-1930s.[25] In 1953 a new full-colour magazine, Royalauto, was launched, which later became the bimonthly member magazine RA, published in print and online.[24]
As at September 2016, RoyalAuto had an audited circulation of over 1.4 million, with sources claiming it was Australia's highest-circulating monthly magazine.[25] Today, content continues to be published in the News & Lifestyle section of the RACV website.[26]