Blog

As we approach the conclusion of this year’s Museum of Fire Art Competition and prepare for our next temporary exhibition, it feels like an appropriate moment to pause and reflect on what this exhibition has come to represent for our museum and for the community that surrounds us. At first glance, an art competition may seem like an unexpected feature within a museum dedicated to the history of firefighting. Our collection is filled with fire engines, equipment, uniforms and

On Thursday 15 January 2026, we hosted the awards ceremony for our 2025 Art Competition. In 2025, Fire and Rescue NSW marked 40 years since women were first formally allowed to join the brigade as firefighters, a milestone that transformed the service and paved the way for generations of trailblazers. To honour this important anniversary, the Museum of Fire proudly presents Trailblazers , a special exhibition celebrating the courage, achievements and enduring legacy of the

As we step into 2026, I am delighted to welcome you to another exciting year at the Museum of Fire. The beginning of a new year is always a moment to pause, to reflect on where we have come from, and to look ahead with optimism at what is still to unfold. At the Museum of Fire, this balance between reflection and forward momentum sits at the heart of everything we do, and 2026 promises to be a year full of connection, learning, and shared experiences. The Museum has long been

At the Museum of Fire, we receive a diverse range of fascinating donations. These donations showcase not only the equipment used to fight fires, but also extend into objects related to charity work, competition and sporting events, and inspiring the next generation of firefighters. The objects on display for our latest iteration of our New and Noteworthy  exhibit have been donated to us over the past year and truly showcase the other aspects of being part of the fire service.

At the Museum of Fire, we’re constantly reviewing our exhibits that haven’t been updated in years. This gives us the opportunity to breathe new life into these topics and showcase more objects from our collection. Our latest exhibit, which we revamped earlier this month, delves into the history of the Commissioners and Chief Officers of Fire and Rescue NSW (formerly the NSW Fire Brigades and the Metropolitan Fire Brigade). We knew we had more stories and objects to share alon

On Sunday 14 September 2025, the Museum of Fire hosted our annual History Week Keynote Presentation. At the Museum of Fire, we have always embraced the opportunity to contribute to History Week. As a museum devoted entirely to the preservation and interpretation of firefighting history in New South Wales, events like this are the lifeblood of our work—just as water is the lifeblood of firefighting itself.   Each year, the History Council of NSW selects a thought-provoking the

Manly Fire Station watchroom, c. 1920 [Museum of Fire Collection] One of our most well-loved displays here at the Museum of Fire is the watchroom. All communications were channelled through the watchroom and may have come from public phone lines, direct lines from other stations, connection to street fire alarm pillar boxes, public buildings - such as theatres and other high-risk locations - fire detection systems, and to the ‘call out’ bells in the homes of volunteer firefig

Out of the many displays at the Museum of Fire, one that often captures visitors’ attention is the large set of shelves filled with hundreds, if not thousands, of identical books. These aren’t just any old books, and their uniform size and shape hint at a shared purpose. And indeed, they do share something very special: they are occurrence books . Members of the Museum of Fire install the occurrence book display at the Museum in the 1990s [Museum of Fire Collection] Occurrenc

Dr Kristine Klugman, Deputy President of the Board of Fire Commissioners of NSW, 1984 [Museum of Fire Collection] When Dr Kristine Klugman was appointed Deputy President of the Board of Fire Commissioners of NSW in 1982, she became the first woman to take on a senior leadership role in the then 98-year-old organisation. Her appointment not only made history—it also set in motion a chain of reforms that would ultimately lead to the inclusion of women in active firefighting rol

This week, to coincide with the annual celebration of International Women’s Day, the Museum is proud to officially open our latest exhibition which pays tribute to the role women have played within firefighting in NSW. This exhibition has been produced to celebrate the 40th anniversary of women being permitted to join the NSW Fire Brigade (NSWFB, today Fire and Rescue NSW, FRNSW) as firefighters. This is the first time that an exhibition has showcased this largely forgotten p