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The Museum of Fire is proud to have been shortlisted in the 2023 National Heritage Awards in the category of Conservation – Interiors and Objects for the restoration of the 1959 Commer Fire Engine. The project saw an original 1959 Commer C5FT fire engine restored by our hard-working team of volunteers to a state of completeness unseen since 1983. The Commer C5FT is one of four in existence in NSW and is the only known one to have been restored to this degree. The Commer has

The NSW Fire Brigades Roll of Honour The NSW Fire Brigades Roll of Honour is displayed in an engine bay of the 1887 section at Fire and Rescue NSW, City of Sydney Fire Station. This is where the ANZAC Day Ceremony is held each year. It is dedicated to the Fire Brigades Staff who served during World War I. Unveiling the Roll of Honour The Honourable C. W. Oakes, Colonial Secretary, Minister for Public Health, and Acting Premier inaugurated the Roll of Honour on 2 May 1923 in f

Howards Department Store (later renamed Mates Department Store) had a rough year in 1973, with two fires causing considerable damage. Howards Department Store Suffers $50K in Damages, April 1973 The first fire occurred on 11 April 1973 when a fire broke out in the basement of the store which housed electrical motors that provided the store’s refrigeration. The store employees attempted to extinguish the blaze before alerting the fire brigade at 5:40pm. The fire quickly spread

*This information is an extract from the colour-book produced by the Museum of Fire's Heritage Team to celebrate the station opening of Ballina Fire Station in 2016. The following is dedicated to the station's continuing history celebrating now at the time of writing in 2023, 120 years of history. Should you wish to use any of the information and pictures provided we ask that you please reference the Museum correctly and contact the Museum for permission where applicable. The

In the 1980s is when the aerial ladder platform became an appliance of interest to firefighters in NSW. The implementation of the raised monorail through Sydney and especially Darling Harbour was of greatest concern to Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) as the current fleet of turntable ladders and aerial pumpers were not as effective. Emergency evacuation of the monorail system or a fire occurring onboard or on a nearby building would not be able to be effectively managed by the cu

Up until the 1920s the use of breathing apparatus was limited by the distance dictated by the length of tubing attached to a bellows smoke helmet and the time limit imposed by the self-contained Vajen Baden smoke helmet as such the New South Wales Fire Brigades (NSWFB; now Fire and Rescue NSW , FRNSW) began to look for a type of breathing apparatus that would allow firefighters to move around freely and spend longer periods of time in smoke filled, toxic or oxygen deficient a

*This information is an extract from the colour-book produced by the Museum of Fire's Heritage Team to celebrate the station opening of the brand-new fire station of Oran Park Fire Station on February 27, 2023. Should you wish to use any of the information and pictures provided we ask that you please reference the Museum correctly and contact the Museum for permission where applicable. History of Oran Park In the early to mid-19th century when land within Sydney’s southwest w

In the Museum’s collection is a wonderful historic fire engine, the 1923 Merryweather Turntable Ladders, which celebrates its 100th birthday this year. In honour of such it has been commemorated as the Museum of Fire’s vehicle of the year for 2023. Whilst a somewhat allusive fire engine in the historical record, the Merryweather has certainly got some stories to tell over its 100-year tenure. Early History of Merryweather and the Petrol Fire Engine Revolution The turntable la

*This information is an extract from the colour-book produced by the Museum of Fire's Heritage Team to celebrate the history of Kingscliff Fire Brigade/Fire Station. Should you wish to use any of the information and pictures provided we ask that you please reference the Museum correctly and contact the Museum for permission where applicable. The Establishment of a Fire Brigade in Kingscliff The first record of the town of Kingscliff requesting fire protection for the area wa

During the mid-1800s, after military brigades had been disbanded due to their limited success as firefighters, private insurance companies began to form their own private fire brigade units. These were in theory, designated to protect those whose homes and businesses caught on fire for a price. Insurance fire brigades originate from England, with these companies' providing homes and businesses with “fire marks”, a plaque which consisted of the company's logo and was installed