The club was founded in 1905 but folded in 1948. It was re-formed in 1976, playing in the South of Scotland League. In 2001 Dalbeattie joined the East of Scotland League, playing in the league for eight seasons and finishing as runners-up in 2008–09, before returning to the South of Scotland League. They reached the third round of the 2008–09 Scottish Cup, before losing to Highland League side Forres Mechanics 2−4 after extra time, following a very creditable 2–2 draw at Mosset Park. The Star finished runners-up behind Threave Rovers in their first season back in the South of Scotland League, and the Castle Douglas side prevailed again in 2010–11. Although pushed all the way, a 0–2 home defeat by Threave in the penultimate game of the season tipped the title race in favour of the champions. In 2011–12, Dalbettie won the South of Scotland League for the first time since 1988–89, finishing the league season unbeaten having won 21 of the 24 matches. The title was clinched with a 1–1 draw away to Threave Rovers, the defending champions. As well as the league, the Star also won four cups - the Challenge Cup, League Cup, Potts Cup and the Haig Gordon Cup, meaning the 2011–12 season was one of the best ever in the club's history. The following season, 2012–13, Star retained the league title with a couple of games to spare, though their long unbeaten league was ended. The South of Scotland Challenge Cup and the League Cup were also retained with wins over Nithsdale Wanderers and Threave Rovers, and the Tweedie Cup was won with another victory over Threave. In the summer of 2013 Star joined the newly formed Lowland League. In the inaugural season of the league Star finished a creditable third and though 2013–14 was not trophy laden like the previous two seasons, significant progress was made on the park with some excellent results and performances. There were big disappointments as well, none more so than a second SFA South Region Challenge Cup final defeat in a row, this time to East Kilbride at Palmerston. The following season the club finished fourth in the league but again missed out on silverware in the cups. Manager Paul McGinley announced in February that he would be stepping down at the end of the season. Darren Kerr was named as the new boss for 2015–16 season. In his four years in charge, Star won the South of Scotland Challenge Cup twice and held on to their Lowland League status. At the end of season 2018–19 Kerr left the club by mutual consent and was replaced by Ritchie Maxwell, who had enjoyed a highly successful nine year spell as a player at Islecroft.
