A social gathering (1906)
The early years of the club were notable for helping the motor vehicle become an accepted part of day-to-day life in Queensland. Of the 18 foundation members, 10 were medical practitioners of some kind, and their use of vehicles to transport patients across town did much to dispel the “unreliable” tag that plagued cars at the time.
Although club members took great delight in organising rallies and social outings, public perception for several years was of an elitist club rife with internal politics. Consequently, membership growth was slow in comparison to clubs in the southern states.
It took the threat of draconian police powers over motoring in 1909 to kick start the club’s growth into an influential voice for all motorists. Repeated clashes with councils over arbitrary taxes and legislation reinforced the obvious need for a single body to represent the ever-growing number of motorists and membership grew accordingly.
The major advantage cars held over more primitive modes of transport at the time was increased mobility. Much of the club’s social activity comprised of day trips to nearby towns, which in turn created a new problem – there were no road signs to help point them in the right direction.
Gaye Trippe - RACQ’s first tour guide
These organised social outings were popular throughout the south-east and, with the government reluctant to outlay funds for road signs, the club produced and erected 100 directional signs to help motorists on their journey.
This important initiative gave birth to drive tourism in Queensland, which is today a multi-billion dollar industry. The club formalised its support in 1918, with the creation of a travel service for members, providing a list of motor trips and recommended routes, along with advice on road conditions.
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