Founded in 1961 as a sub branch of the Meadows Civil Defence Unit, this was later changed to the State Emergency Service.

Meadows Civil Defence Unit later changed its name to the Happy Valley SES when the City of Happy Valley was proclaimed in 1985. In 1997 it found itself again going though a change with the amalgamation of the councils and it was decided to change the name to Sturt SES.

There have been various changes of location for the Unit starting from a shared space with the CFS on Taylors Road to a house on the corner of Kenihans Road to an old shed on Education Road and finally to our Local Headquarters here at Coromandel Valley.

Membership in 1961 was four and in the first year responded to four tasks, the Unit now responds to approx 600 calls a year for assistance and is supported by approximately 40 fully trained members.