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New Digital Exhibit:
"A Picture is worth 1000 Words".
The Museum has now been closed for over two months and we are missing having visitors in our building. We know your have been enjoying our digital content so we have a special treat! Over two days we will be showcasing our first digital exhibit on Instagram!
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To be involved make sure you are following the Museum's Instagram: @mof_sydney and follow along from 8am on Saturday 21 August 2021.
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If you don't have Instagram don't worry as the featured images will make their way here. Keep following along on all of our social media to receive updates.
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#1: Parkes Fire Brigade and Station, c. 1920 [Museum of Fire Collection]
This photograph has been chosen to be featured in this exhibit as it is not only a beautiful memory of firefighting past but it was one of the first station histories our newly built heritage team completed last year. It therefore holds a special place in our memories.
Parkes Fire Brigade has a history that dates back to 1878, making it one of the oldest brigades in NSW. The station pictured here was located in almost the same site as the current building and was used by the brigade until 1924 when a new larger building was erected. This building was only closed in 2020 upon the completion of a more modern build.
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To learn more about Pares Fire Brigade checkout our blog: https://www.museumoffire.net/single-post/station-focus-no-417-parkes-1878-2020
#2: Batlow Fire Brigade turn out during a snowstorm, c. 1993
[Museum of Fire Collection]
The irony of this photograph is not lost on anyone! A fire engine turning out in a snowstorm is unusual however it is a part of the lives of many not just around the world but in NSW.
When we shared this photograph earlier this year many overseas were surprised to see snow in Australia but places like Batlow find themselves having to operate in snowy conditions. There are also numerous stations within the snow fields.
With so much interest in this image it was worthy of being included in this digital exhibit.
To learn more about Batlow Fire Brigade visit our blog: https://www.museumoffire.net/single-post/station-focus-no-218-batlow-1966-2018
#3: Fairfax Newsprint Store Fire in Pyrmont,
9 February 1971
[Museum of Fire Collection]
This photo has been selected to be included in this digital exhibit as it has been one of the most talked about images that we have shared this year.
The photograph shows the destruction caused during a fire at the Fairfax newsprint stores 50 years ago.
The building was completely destroyed with losses estimated at over $44.8 million in today’s money. It took three days for the fire to be extinguished.
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To read more about the fire check out our blog: https://www.museumoffire.net/single-post/50-years-ago-john-fairfax-sons-major-fire-9-2-1971
#4: The Women’s Fire Auxiliary Complete Hose Drills, c. 1944
[Museum of Fire Collection]
The Women’s Fire Auxiliary were created by the NSWFB during World War Two in response to the growing concerns of an invasion. The WFA were a branch of the Women’s Australian National Service (WANS) which trained women in various roles such as ambulance drivers, motor mechanics and firefighting.
Though the program began in Sydney initially it spread across NSW and by 1945 there were an estimated 800 trained women in the WFA.
One feature of the WFA were demonstration and testing days that were held in Sydney in front of crowds of up to 3,000 people.
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To learn more about the WFA visit our blog: https://www.museumoffire.net/single-post/the-women-s-fire-auxiliary-wfa
#5: East Willoughby Fire Brigade with their appliance outside the station, c. 1905
[Museum of Fire Collection]
This photograph has been chosen for this photographic exhibit because it shows something that many people don’t realise – prior to horses being “employed” it was the firefighters who pulled the appliances themselves.
This photograph shows East Willoughby Fire Brigade around 1905. Today this brigade is simply known as Willoughby.
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To read about Willoughby Fire Brigade see our blog post: https://www.museumoffire.net/single-post/station-focus-no-40-willoughby-fire-brigade-1905-2015
Photo #6: Casino Fire Brigade outside the Fire Station, 2018 [Museum of Fire Collection]
History never stops. It is created every day, so even though this photo only dates to 2018 it is already part of our photographic collection and captures a moment in time.
Back in 2018 Casino Fire Brigade celebrated 100 years of this station building. To celebrate the event the Museum produced a complete history of the brigade and station.
Keep an eye on our website for a blog about Casino Fire Brigade coming later this year!
Photo #7: No. 1 Headquarters Fire Station Sydney, c. 1900
[Museum of Fire Collection]
This is one of the most recognisable stations in NSW. Almost every permanent NSW Firefighters has served at this station at one point in time. It was also where the first steps towards a formalised training program for fighters began.
This is the perfect photo to begin day two of our digital Insta exhibit with!
To read more about the history of the station please visit these blogs and Museum pages:
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https://www.museumoffire.net/single-post/from-fire-station-to-caf%C3%A9
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https://www.museumoffire.net/single-post/curator-s-blog-1-her-majesty-s-theatre-wall-phone
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https://www.museumoffire.net/single-post/2017/11/13/no1-station-city-of-sydney
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Photo #8: MVA Fire Forestville, 13 June 1989 [Museum of Fire Collection]
This photograph was taken by photographer John Grainger at a truck fire on Warringah Road, Forestville on 13 June 1989 and now forms part of the Museum's historic photographic collection.
Motor vehicle accidents are some of the most commonly attended incidents by firefighters. This photograph is not representative of this fact.
On of the brigade’s in attendance was Narrabeen. To learn more about this station and their history please visit https://www.museumoffire.net/single-post/station-focus-no-68-narrabeen-fire-brigade-1920-2020
Photo #9: NSWFB Training Officer, c. 1947 [Museum of Fire Collection]
Earlier today we mentioned that No. 1 City of Sydney Headquarters was where early fire brigade training took place.
From 1947 until 1951 the old Wollahra Fire Station was used as a training venue. The introduction of a firefighters "school" took place in late 1946. Prior to this most training occurred "on the job".
This photograph features a NSWFB (now Fire and Rescue NSW ) training officer, c. 1947.
This image is very popular amongst our heritage team.
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The Museum's Heritage Team have written about the history of fire brigade training in NSW in the history book produced for the opening of the Emergency Services Academy. Stay tuned for when this history is shared to our website!
Photo #10: Narrabri Fire Station, 1980
[Museum of Fire Collection]
From Narrabeen to Narrabri. This photograph, like many others in this digital exhibit, have been featured in the Museum’s 2021 calendar.
Narrabri Fire Station has been featured in the calendar as this year marks 100 years of the station pictured here. It is also a great photograph of the siren that was used to summon the brigade (the red dome at the top of the roof).
In the coming weeks we will be sharing a lot more about Narrabri so stay tuned!
Photo #11: NSWFB mobile Canteen serves Firefighters, c. 1960
[Museum of Fire Collection]
Do you recognise these gentlemen?
We have chosen to include this image in this digital exhibit as it has been one of the most talked about on our social media this year.
This photograph shows firefighters using the canteen when it was parked outside the Art Gallery of New South Wales, c. 1960 and when we shared it earlier this year we learnt that a lot of fireifghters have very strong opinions about the Canteen!
The Canteen pictured here is on display at the Museum.
To learn more about the canteen visit: https://www.museumoffire.net/single-post/sustaining-the-firies-the-mobile-canteen-1942-ford-21w
Photo #12: The Museum building before it was transformed from a Power Station to Museum, 1985
[Museum of Fire Collection]
This is us.
As an organization it is easy to forget about your own history, or the history we create everyday when we are busy preserving and protecting the history of someone else.
This photograph shows where we have been and how far we have come.
This is the Museum back in 1985 when it was an abandoned power station.
Remembering our own history is just as important as that of firefighting which is why we have included this image as the last in our Insta Digital Exhibit.
This image has also recently been featured in the exhibit “Our Heritage” at the Museum.
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To read more about the history of the Museum please visit these blogs:
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https://www.museumoffire.net/single-post/how-did-the-fire-museum-end-up-in-a-powerhouse-in-penrith
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