A proud history
Since the late 1800s, Victoria's ambulance service has grown steadily with the state's population.
Over decades there were dozens of local ambulance services, which slowly merged over time.
In 1988, the state's 16 services were amalgamated into seven. A decade later, five rural services were amalgamated into one. And in 2008, the state's three remaining services were merged into one statewide entity, Ambulance Victoria.
1883
A branch of St John Ambulance Association is established in Melbourne to teach first aid and home nursing.
1887
St John buys six Ashford Litters in Melbourne, which are placed at police stations. Use of these litters spreads to other areas.
1894
Victoria's first ambulance, a horse-drawn wagon, begins service in Ballarat.
1899
Melbourne's first ambulance, a horse drawn cart, begins work from stables off Bourke Street, at the rear of the Windsor Hotel.
1900
Bendigo City Council begins an ambulance service using horse-drawn vehicles.
1906
Gippsland ambulance service begins.
1907
Branch opens in Prahran. Melbourne service has four horse-drawn ambulances.
1910
Motorised ambulance begins service in Melbourne, responding to 700 of the 4000 calls in its first year.
1916
Due to a lack of funds, the ambulance service relies on council donations to survive. The State Government refuses to subsidise the service in the same way as the fire brigade and police, saying it is not a Victoria-wide service.
1918
An influenza outbreak makes ambulance service essential, with emergency increase in Melbourne to 85 drivers and attendants and 16 vehicles. During the pandemic, 57 ambulance staff contract influenza and four die.
1919
First ambulance auxiliary is established.
1920
Motorised vehicles work as ambulances in Bendigo, manned by volunteer firemen.
1922
Maffra and District Ambulance Service established.
1923
Melbourne's fleet stands at six motor ambulances, a motorcycle and side car, and three horse ambulances. There are 27 operational staff.
Motorised ambulance begins at Yarram, and branches open at Rushworth and Yarra Junction.
1925
Motorised ambulance begins in Horsham.
1926
Sale gets a Dodge ambulance.
1931
Camberwell branch opens.
1933
Footscray branch opens. Four-berth ambulances make mass transport of patients efficient.
1937
Ballarat Base Hospital takes over local ambulance services.
1939
Swan Hill acquires a four-berth ambulance.
1944
One-way radio transmission to ambulances begins via the Melbourne City Council transmitter.
1946
Metropolitan fleet of 27 vehicles is fitted with radio receivers.
1948
The Hospitals and Charities Act vests responsibility for ambulance to the Hospitals and Charities Commission.
1949
Mid-Murray District Ambulance Service is established, based in Swan Hill.
1951
South Gippsland Ambulance Service begins, based in Leongatha.
1954
Melbourne communication centre begins service, using two-way radios.
1955
Ringwood branch opens.
1956
Metropolitan workload reaches 10,800 patient transports a year.
1958
Metropolitan headquarters open in Lonsdale Street in the City.
1962
Air Ambulance begins using an Aero Commander aircraft.
Ambulance officers' training school opens in Geelong. It is later relocated to Malvern.
1963
Maffra and East Gippsland ambulance services amalgamate.
1966
Branch opens in Manangatang.
1969
The first specially developed Ford F 100 series general purpose ambulances begin service.
1970
Five people die when an air ambulance aircraft (carrying a pilot and nurse) and helicopter collide near Moorabbin Airport.
1971
MICA (Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance) concept is trialled to address avoidable deaths from road accidents and heart attacks.
Angel of Mercy helicopter begins operations from the Mornington Peninsula.
1974
Melton branch opens.
1978
Avoca branch opens.
1986
Helicopter retrieval of trauma and time critical patients begins from Essendon Airport.
Air ambulance aircraft crashes on take-off from Essendon Airport, killing all on board - the pilot, a nurse, and four patients.
1988
The state's 16 ambulance services are merged, creating six rural and one metropolitan service.
1989
AV's current Doncaster headquarters opens.
1990
UHF radio introduced.
1991
Cranbourne and Epping branches open.
1992
Computer Information System in metropolitan region streamlines dispatch of ambulances.
1993
Emergency and non-emergency patient services in metropolitan area are separated with sub-contractors providing non-emergency stretcher transport.
1994
Role of Clinical Support Officer is created. Bellarine branch opens.
1995
Duty Team Manager position is created to manage resources in Melbourne.
1996
The Advanced Medical Priority Dispatch System is introduced to the metropolitan communications centre.
1999
Five of the state's six rural services (excluding the Alexandra District Ambulance Service) merge to form Rural Ambulance Victoria.
2000
Emergency Medical Response program begins with metropolitan firefighters responding to life-threatening emergency calls.
2001
Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) begin operating.
2003
Two paramedics die in a road accident while responding to a case in Melbourne's outer east.
2004
New branches open at Torquay and Romsey.
Paramedic Community Support Coordinator roles begin in Mallacoota and Omeo.
2005
Following training, Remote Area Nurses begin responding to medical emergencies.
Victorian Ambulance Clinical Information System (VACIS) begins rollout in metropolitan region.
2006
Branches open at Mooroopna, Ocean Grove and Paynesville.
2007
Adult Retrieval Victoria launches statewide service, managing the movement of critically ill patients.
2008
State's three remaining ambulance services merge (Metropolitan Ambulance Service, Rural Ambulance Victoria and the Alexandra District Ambulance Service) to form Ambulance Victoria.
2009
Two new helicopters begin work, one based at Essendon and one at Warrnambool.
2010
MICA single responder units introduced to rural regions and expand operations in the metropolitan region.
2011
Paramedic motorcycle unit begins work in Melbourne.
New call and dispatch centre in Ballarat takes all emergency calls in regional Victoria.
2012
Country Fire Authority career firefighters join Emergency Medical Response program.