[2] The station underwent extensive re-development in 2015/16 with a new purpose built boat house to accommodate its new Shannon-class all-weather lifeboat (AWB), and was opened in 2017.

[3] On 4 March 1875, prompted by the wreck of the brigantine Wild Wave of Exeter on 23 January, the RNLI Committee of Management agreed to form a lifeboat station at Swanage.

The lifeboat's first service was on 13 March 1876, when it saved a ketch, the William Pitt of Poole, when it drifted ashore near Bournemouth.

[3] On 3 April 1993 a D-class Inshore lifeboat (ILB) was sent to the station for evaluation, and a new slipway was built the following year to accommodate it.

In November 2014, the RNLI's contractors (BAM Nuttall) arrived on site to start modifications of the boathouse.

The Mersey-class Robert Charles Brown (ON 1182) left Swanage for the last time on 22 April, after more than 23 years of service.