Royal Automobile Club of Australia

"RACA" redirects here. For other uses, see Raca (disambiguation).

Royal Automobile Club of Australia
Formation1903
TypeBusiness, Social and Special Interest
Headquarters89 Macquarie St, Sydney, Australia
Location
President
Dr Paul Myers, President
Key people
John Autelitano, CEO
Websitewww.raca.com.au

The Royal Automobile Club of Australia (RACA) is an Australian motoring organisation, which has also incorporated the Australian Imperial Services Club since 1987.

The RACA was established in March 1903 in Sydney,[1][2] and is the oldest motoring club in Australia, founded by Henry Alfred ‘Harrie’ Skinner, WE Fisher and HE Jones.[3] The organisation also advocated for specific localised issues for motorists in Sydney.[4][5] The Royal Automobile Club of Australia had an important role in shaping early motoring legislation, in safeguarding the rights of motorists, and in establishing motorsport in Australia.[6]

In the 1920s and 1930s it was involved in organising hill climbing races, and similar events in New South Wales.[7][8]

Most states of Australia have organisations named Royal Automobile Club with the state names added:Royal Automobile Club of Queensland, Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania, Royal Automobile Club of Victoria, Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia.

The organisation used to provide roadside service and insurance but in 1945 in an agreement with the NRMA ceased offering these services with members gaining reciprocal access to NRMA provided services.[9][10] The RACA is a member of the Australian Automobile Association.

History

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Original office bearers

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The first office bearers of the Royal Automobile Club of Australia (RACA), in 1903, were:

  • President: HA Jones
  • First Vice President: James Macken
  • Second Vie President: Dr C McCarthy
  • Third Vice President: Harrie Skinner
  • Fourth Vice President: Harry Vale
  • Hon Treasurer: George Lane
  • Hon Secretary: WE Fisher
  • Consulting Engineer: AJ Knowles

Past presidents

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  • HA Jones (1903–1908)
  • S Horden Sr. (1908–1909)
  • GF Todman (1909–1910)
  • Sir Samuel Hordern, KBE (1910–1912, 1914–1930)
  • Colonel JM Arnott (1912–1914)
  • PA Oatley (1930–1936)
  • WJ Bradley QC BA LLB (1936–1937)
  • Sir John Butters, KB CMG MBE VD (1937–1949)
  • H Scougall (1949–1956)
  • HA Fisher-Webster BA (Oxon) (1956–1967)
  • GW Cutts (1967–1970)
  • AF Bode FCA (1970–1973)
  • JO Sherwood MBE (1973–1982)
  • BV Clifton (1982–1987)
  • RG Wagland (1987–1992)
  • BD Kelly (1992–1997)
  • HE Nicholls (1997–1998)
  • BJ Fisher (1998–2003)
  • G. Thomas (2003–2016)
  • M. Callanan (2016–2021)
  • M. Lavender (2021–2022)
  • R. Armitage (2023–)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Royal Automobile Club of Australia, 89 Macquarie Street Sydney, 1963, City of Sydney Archives, 1963, retrieved 22 July 2024
  2. ^ "SMALL BEGINNINGS". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 28, 020. New South Wales, Australia. 25 October 1927. p. 7. Retrieved 22 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ Royal Automobile Club of Australia (2004), Royal Automobile Club of Australia, 100 years : celebrating the centenary of Australia's oldest motoring organisation, Stroudgate Australasia, retrieved 22 July 2024
  4. ^ "ROYAL AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF AUSTRALIA". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 26, 021. New South Wales, Australia. 30 May 1921. p. 11. Retrieved 22 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "ROYAL AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF AUSTRALIA". The Grenfell Record and Lachlan District Advertiser. Vol. LXVI, no. 7306. New South Wales, Australia. 28 September 1936. p. 4. Retrieved 22 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "RACA History". Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  7. ^ "MOTORING". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 26, 158. New South Wales, Australia. 5 November 1921. p. 14. Retrieved 22 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "MOTORING". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 26, 008. New South Wales, Australia. 14 May 1921. p. 14. Retrieved 22 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "N.R.M.A.—R.A.C.A." Queanbeyan Age. New South Wales, Australia. 24 July 1945. p. 3. Retrieved 23 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "N.R.M.A.—R.A.C.A." The Farmer and Settler. Vol. XL, no. 26. New South Wales, Australia. 27 July 1945. p. 19. Retrieved 23 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
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33°51′42″S 151°12′46″E / 33.8618°S 151.2128°E / -33.8618; 151.2128

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