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The Glen Innes Volunteer Fire Brigade In 1872, when Glen Innes was proclaimed a municipality, it was recognised that a fire brigade was needed. During a meeting of the Glen Innes Fire Brigade Board on 24 November 1886, it was approved, and subsequently agreed upon that John Sully be appointed Captain of the Brigade. Over the coming years, funds were raised for a manual pumper, and in February 1888, it was decided that one would be ordered. The appliance cost £250 (approximate

Between 1950 and 1957, the renowned fire engine manufacturer Merryweather produced a variety of equipment including pumps, turntable ladders, and specialized tenders with 138 of these items being installed on AEC’s Regent III or Regal III bus chassis. These hybrid creations were assembled on a special production line at the Maudslay Motors factory (by then owned by AEC) and became iconic examples of post-war engineering ingenuity. AEC Merryweather turntable ladders at an unkn

The Establishment Of The Armidale Amazons Forming in 1901 under the guidance of Captain T. Webb from the Armidale Fire Brigade, the ‘Amazons’ as they are affectionately known as were a brigade of incredibly well trained young women. Literature at the time of the NSW Fire Brigade’s existence confirms they were established as a ‘novelty performance group’, but despite this, their skill became well known both around Australia and overseas, with American newspapers even reporting

2000 Coffs Harbour State Championships Crest [Image Courtesy of John Hand] The Firefighter Championships began as ‘Demonstrations’ or ‘Demos’, where fire brigades exhibited their skills to the local community. Events in the Demos were based on real situations firefighters faced daily and were designed to highlight their talent and expertise whilst having the extra benefit of being a form of training. This week, our Championship historian and guest blogger John Hand, takes us

Community Roots The history of organised fire protection in the Dungog district is long and varied. Beginning as early as 1912, attempts to form a brigade began shortly after a house fire on 26 June, where the absence of a brigade meant bystanders banded together to extinguish the flames. Soon after in July, the editor of the Dungog Chronicle had written to the Board of Fire Commissioners of NSW (BoFC) to enquire about the requirements for establishing a fire brigade in the a

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

Volunteer Origins Several discussions were held in the early 1900s to form a fire brigade in the West Wyalong district. By March 1907, a grant of £25 (approximately $4,600 today) was received from the state government to be used for the formation of a fire brigade. A few months later in June, meetings were held to enrol members with over 50 signing up, along with the election of a Captain, J. Stephenson. This brigade, however, quickly dissolved and by January 1908 there was r

1970 Port Macquarie Demonstration pin [Image courtesy of John Hand.] The Firefighter Championships began as ‘Demonstrations’ or ‘Demos’, where fire brigades exhibited their skills to the local community. Events in the Demos were based on real situations firefighters faced daily and were designed to highlight their talent and expertise, whilst having the extra benefit of being a form of training. This week, our Championship historian and guest blogger, John Hand, takes us back

Manual Fire Engines  Today, fire engines are a sight to behold, their bright red colour, flashing lights, and loud sirens herald their arrival. Equipped with a variety of equipment, they are truly prepared for any emergency. However, if we take a step back in time to the origins of organised firefighting in Sydney, we find a vastly different scene.   The early 19th century marked a major advancement in firefighting technology with the rise of the manual fire engine, an evolut