Our history

Marine Rescue Batemans Bay began with humble origins in 1982, when two dedicated individuals operated a local radio club known as Bar Marine, located on Beach Road.  The following year, discussions commenced to establish a formal division of the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol (RVCP) in Batemans Bay.

In 1984, the first committee was formed with seven founding members, laying the foundation for what would become Marine Rescue Batemans Bay.  To this day, a few of our original RVCP members remain active in the unit, and some local boaters still affectionately refer to us by the old name when calling into the radio room.

Our first rescue vessel, Shell Rescue, was acquired in 1988 thanks to the generous support of the Shell Service Station in Batehaven.  In 1990, a radio communications van was purchased, serving as the operational hub until 1995, when the team relocated to the marina manager’s office on Beach Road.

By 1997, with 54 full-time members and a rapidly growing boating community of nearly 1,000, negotiations began with the council to construct a purpose-built facility.  In 1999, a Waveney Class lifeboat was purchased from the UK, becoming our primary rescue vessel.  Construction of the current building commenced in September 2003, using local tradespeople to honour the community’s support.  The building was completed in August 2004 and officially opened in November that year.

Marine Rescue NSW was formally incorporated on 1 July 2009, with its operational launch on 1 January 2010.  Volunteers took to the water in new royal blue uniforms aboard vessels bearing the distinctive red and yellow livery.  The NSW Government provided a one-off capital payment of $3 million to support the establishment of the new service, covering uniforms, corporate identification, and new or replacement vessels and equipment.

Since then, the organisation has continued to grow, with more than 3,000 members now proudly serving across the state.

An extension to our Batemans Bay base was recently completed and formally opened by the former Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience, Steph Cooke. The upgrade includes expanded garage space for our trailered rescue vessel, BM21, and support vehicle, an additional toilet, and a new Training Room, an invaluable asset for our members.

Today, Marine Rescue Batemans Bay proudly operates with approximately 80 active members across fundraising, radio operations, and vessel crews, continuing our commitment to safety, service, and the community.