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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 to 2006, when Port Macquarie hosted a State Championship that would end in

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

Twenty years ago, in 2006, the world looked very different. Social media was still in its infancy, smartphones had yet to transform everyday life, and the ways we worked, communicated and connected with our communities were on the cusp of enormous change. Looking back at 2006 provides a fascinating snapshot of the time. John Howard was Prime Minister of Australia; Melbourne hosted the Commonwealth Games and Steve Irwin’s sudden death shocked the nation. It was also a year of

*This information is an extract from the colour-book produced by the Museum of Fire's Heritage Team to celebrate the centenary of Kearsley Fire Brigade becoming independent in 1926, at a ceremony held on Friday 7 August 2026. 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. In the early 1920s, the town of Kearsley was thriving, with five coal mines,

Australia is one of the most fire-prone countries on Earth. Bushfires are not an occasional crisis, they are a recurring part of life that has shaped landscapes, tested communities, and pushed emergency services to their limits. To acknowledge this history, the Museum of Fire recently launched an exhibition highlighting this history. The fires in this exhibition span more than half a century, each leaving their mark not only in loss, but in what was learned - driving change i

*This information is an extract from the colour-book produced by the Museum of Fire's Heritage Team to celebrate the opening of the new Lambton Fire Station at an event held in 2016. This book included the history of five stations. These were New Lambton, Lambton, Hamilton, Adamstown and Broadmeadow Fire Brigade's. 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 whe

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

Chief Officer Bill Reay [Museum of Fire Collection] When Bill Reay reflected on his time as Chief Officer, he described the role as “honouring and humbling… rewarding and demanding… satisfying and frustrating – but above all, challenging”. It was a fitting summary for a man whose leadership of the NSW Fire Brigades was defined by integrity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to service. Reay was the NSWFB’s 18th Chief Officer, and notably, the first Inspector ever promo

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 Origins of Firefighting in Maroubra The history of Maroubra Fire Station reflects the community spirit that has made it a beloved institution. Beyond housing a fire brigade, it has been used as a community hub, embodying the values that unite its residents. Blue prints for Maroubra Fire Station, November 1923 [Museum of Fire Collection] Beginning in 1912, the Randwick Municipal Council recognised the need for a new fire brigade and station to protect the rapidly developin