Blog

The history of Bowral Fire Brigade, its formation and growth, reflect the grit and resilience that has long defined country towns and those who reside in them. As early as 1886, residents of Bowral began expressing their concern over the lack of a fire brigade in town. They feared that the town was ill-prepared for a large fire, especially since they had no reticulated water supply and relied solely on wells and tanks. This fear came to fruition when a disastrous fire swept t

Burwood Fire Station, c.2005 [Museum of Fire Collection] The Establishment of Burwood Fire Brigade   The rapid growth of Burwood in the late 1800s necessitated local fire protection measures, as relying solely on fire companies from metropolitan Sydney, which at the time was considered too distant, proved inadequate. The Burwood community was acutely aware of the fire risk, having experienced a devastating fire on 2 January 1879 that destroyed the Burwood Congregational Churc

What is Urban Search and Rescue? Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) is a multi-agency task force comprised of a variety of specialists from Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW; previously NSW Fire Brigades, NSWFB), NSW Police Force, NSW State Emergency Service (SES), NSW Ambulance, engineers from NSW Public Works, and several federal government departments. Usually consisting of 72 individuals, predominantly made up of FRNSW members, the task force is led by a senior FRNSW officer respons

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

On Sunday 14 September 2025, the Museum of Fire hosted our annual History Week Keynote Presentation. At the Museum of Fire, we have...

Volunteer Origins Several discussions were held in the early 1900s to form a fire brigade in the West Wyalong district. By March 1907, a...

Manual Fire Engines  Today, fire engines are a sight to behold, their bright red colour, flashing lights, and loud sirens herald their...

Attempts to Form a Brigade   Consideration regarding fire protection in the North Illawarra District began to be explored by the Board of...

Formation of Riverstone Fire Brigade   Interest in the fire protection of Riverstone was brought to the foreground in 1923. At this time,...

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...