The Unit was Established In the late 1960s as a Civil Defence Unit. In 1971 Became a volunteer unit with the Civil Defence with its headquarters on the corner of Toowong and Hobart Streets, Bayswater. This property was a two room Infant Health Centre that was surplus to the local requirements at that time.  In the late 60s, the Civil Defence Unit was raised by the Shire of Bayswater and staffed by paid members of the Shire. At the time the Cold War was at its peak and the personnel in this unit were specially trained to provide assistance in case of Nuclear Attack.

In 1972, after the establishment of the Voluntary Civil Defence Unit, the training began to branch out into other areas of Emergency Services. In 1972, the first Rescue Team was raised under the control of Arthur Griffin, the Team Leader. Ex-military equipment started to arrive and the first rescue trailer was donated to the unit in 1973. It was towed around by the members' own vehicles, at their own expense. The first unit vehicle was obtained in 1975.