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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

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

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

Attempts to Form a Brigade   Consideration regarding fire protection in the North Illawarra District began to be explored by the Board of Fire Commissioners of NSW (BoFC) as early as October 1922. Local interest in forming a brigade was expressed in June-July 1924 when the School of Arts wrote to the BoFC to enquire about the possibility of a fire brigade in the Balgownie area. Similar sentiments were expressed in the neighbouring town of Corrimal, and it was in October that

Life Before the Brigade Born on the 12 August 1911, Vivian Lowther began his career in 1927 working as an apprentice with the NSW Government Railways as a fitter and turner. Once he had completed his apprenticeship in 1932, he began looking for work as a tradesman, however, due to the ongoing Depression he was unable to find work. During his job search he enquired about working in the NSW Fire Brigades (NSWFB) workshops, but while they didn’t have any positions going, they di

At the Museum of Fire, our mission extends beyond simply housing historic objects. We exist to preserve and share the stories, memories, and moments that define our past, especially those belonging to our emergency first responders. This is particularly important in our role as a history museum, where we document and honour the legacy of firefighting across New South Wales. Our commitment to preservation goes well beyond the museum walls. We work closely with Fire and Rescue

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 120 years to the 1905 Annual Interstate Fire Brigade Demonstration  he

Formation of Riverstone Fire Brigade   Interest in the fire protection of Riverstone was brought to the foreground in 1923. At this time, Riverstone was located within the Windsor Fire District and received protection from Windsor Fire Brigade, however, the brigade was unable to provide adequate fire protection to Riverstone due to the great distance between the two towns and Riverstone’s lack of a reticulated water supply. This meant Riverstone was at risk of being removed f