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On Sunday 10th September 2023 the Museum hosted our annual History Week Keynote Presentation with this years theme being "Voices From the Past". With this topic we chose to highlight the history of women in the fire brigade in NSW. Our CEO Belinda McMartin gave our keynote address with our special guest speaker being Dr. Kristine Klugman OAM. To watch our Keynote Presentation in full visit www.museumoffire.net/history-week-2023 Women have always had a role to play in the fir

*This information is an extract from the colour-book produced by the Museum of Fire's Heritage Team to celebrate the centenary of both Mittagong Fire Brigade and Mittagong Fire Station in 2018. The following is dedicated to the station's continuing history celebrating now at the time of writing in 2023, 107 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 perm

The National Firefighters Championships Association organised the first National Firefighter Championships in 2003 at Coffs Harbour.

*This information is an extract from the colour-book produced by the Museum of Fire's Heritage Team to celebrate the station opening of Henty Fire Station in 2018. The following is dedicated to the station's continuing history celebrating now at the time of writing in 2023, 119 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 O

*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

Commer first began in south London around 1904 as Commercial Cars Ltd, manufacturing a variety of vehicles with a forward control aiming to implement better petrol-electric transmissions that relieved drivers of needing to master the art of the “crash gear box’. Commer would participate in the fire engine industry as early as 1910, teaming up with Henry Simonis and Co of Watford. Simonis was an established fire engineering company and provided the firefighting equipment and b

The Fire Brigade Championships (as we know them today) began as ‘Demonstrations’ where fire brigades showcased their skills to the local community. Events at the ‘Demo’ are based on real situations that firefighters face daily and are designed to highlight their talent, expertise, and were used as a way to train firefighters. State Firefighting Championships now continue to be one of Fire and Rescue NSW’s (FRNSW; formerly NSW Fire Brigades) most longstanding and proudest trad

HAPPY SPRING to all of the Museum's loyal supporters and visitors! This time last year we were contemplating exiting lockdown and wondering when life would get back to some type of normal, so it is great to see that one year on the public are really getting behind the museum and getting out to visit organisations such as ours that have been so severely impacted by the multiple closures. Let's start off this blog with one for all the Duke fans out there! The Museum's spotted m

An early history of firefighting ladders In the early days of firefighting, appliances were often too small to carry a ladder or have...