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The 1968 International 6x6 Tanker from the Maroota South Bush Fire Brigade, Baulkham Hills, 1999 [Museum of Fire Collection] In the early 1950s, the Australian Army's fleet of offroad, medium (3 tonne) and heavy (5 tonne) trucks still comprised mainly of Canadian built 4x4 and U.S. built 6x6 chassis, carried over from the WWII era. Approaches were made to various local truck manufacturers with respect to developing a new range of specialised forward control vehicle

For decades, bright red was synonymous with the fire brigade. From hose carts to motor engines, fire engines have carried the same red paint as they sped to incidents and the rescue of others. Interest in reducing the impact and severity of fire and emergencies through the decreased response times saw permanent change to the traditional livery that decorated fire engines for over a century. FirePacs in their new test livery outside City of Sydney Fire Station, 1996 [Museum of

Some restorations reveal more than a vehicle's mechanical history — they uncover a story that had been hidden for decades under layer after layer of paint. That is exactly what happened during the ongoing restoration of No. 010, the Museum of Fire's GMC CCKW-353 Water Tanker, when volunteers stripping the vehicle's bodywork found the truck's original wartime green paint sitting intact beneath its fire brigade red. A Wartime Workhorse The GMC CCKW — affectionately nicknamed th

The Leyland Crane with a Ford D400 at Five Dock Workshops, c.1970s [Museum of Fire Collection] This month marks ten years since the restoration of the Museum’s 1938 Leyland Crane. The Crane was purchased by the Museum of Fire in June 2010 and took just over six years to restore, with the Museum receiving a highly commended award at the National Trust Heritage Award. During the mid-1930s, recovering damaged or broken-down vehicles was a major logistical issue for fire brigades

Acting CEO Ben Dickson [Photo Courtesy of the ABC] I stepped into the role of Acting Chief Executive Officer in July 2025, taking the reins from our substantive CEO, Belinda McMartin, while she was on maternity leave. The past year has been one of the most enlightening of my professional life, and the Museum of Fire has continued to grow throughout it. I am proud to have been part of that journey. As my time as Acting CEO draws to a close alongside my departure from the Museu

At the Museum of Fire, visitors are often drawn to the fire engines themselves. From hand-drawn hose carts to large modern appliances, the collection spans more than a century of firefighting history. But behind every one of these vehicles is something rarely seen by the public. Before any engine is built, it begins as a drawing. Our latest exhibition, Illustrating Change: Designing Fire Engines for New Challenges , brings these hidden stories to life. Featuring a selection o

In commemoration of its 100 th birthday, the Museum of Fire is pleased to announce the 1926 ME 88 Garford Hale as the 2026 Vehicle of the Year. This small but mighty appliance served for over 40 years in a number of fire stations across regional New South Wales, an exemplar of early firefighting history in our state. Museum of Fire 2026 Vehicle of the Year the 1926 ME 88 Garford Hale fire engine, 2026 [Museum of Fire collection] The Garford Motor Truck Company and its Role i

Firefighter Robert Lightfoot standing behind the Turbine Engine, c.1923. [Museum of Fire Collection] Before flashing lights and roaring engines, the race to a fire sounded very different. Instead of sirens, there was the pounding of hooves on dirt or cobblestone. Instead of radios, there were shouted orders, leather reins, and the urgent clang of a station bell. Fires were not only dangerous; they were social events of urgency. Residents often followed the brigade, forming bu

*This information is an extract from the colour-book produced by the Museum of Fire's Heritage Team to celebrate the history of Singleton 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 Singleton Volunteer Fire Brigade On Friday 16 April 1886, a public meeting was held at the Singleton Municipal Council Chambers to discuss taking

By the 1930s the automobile market witnessed a shift with ‘small’ trucks being desired and possessing more power. Dennis, a prominent vehicle manufacturer ran the risk of falling behinds its opposition until it developed a revolutionary chassis that was 2 tonne capacity and offered unusual features for the time such as a setback front axle and hydraulic brakes. Reports of the time touted this as a “funny looking truck” and as a “courageous disregard of recognised practices” b