Remembering Chatswood Fire Station

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 NSW to protect the state’s firefighting heritage wherever it exists, whether in objects, stories, or buildings. Recently, that mission led us to participate in one of the more difficult realities of heritage work: advocating for recognition and remembrance when physical preservation is no longer possible. This was the case with the historic Chatswood Fire Station.

A Local Icon Facing Change

Chatswood Fire Station hasn’t operated as an active fire station since 1945, yet its distinctive façade along the Pacific Highway has remained a recognisable and much-loved part of the community landscape. In July 2025, it was officially announced that the site would be demolished as part of a broader redevelopment plan to construct new residential and commercial towers, responding to the needs of a growing and evolving suburb in Sydney’s north.

While this outcome is understandably emotional for many who hold the building dear, it’s important to acknowledge that keeping the historic building where it currently stands is not going to preserve the fire station well, nor will keeping just the façade intact be a feat which is achievable or an honourable way to remember the fire station. Whilst the structure may not remain at the end of this process, the new development plans do aim to incorporate key architectural and decorative elements of the station’s façade into the base of the new buildings and will feature interpretive signage to ensure the site’s legacy is honoured.

Willoughby Fire Station (later called Chatswood), c.1900 [Museum of Fire Collection]

A Brief History of Chatswood Fire Station

Built in 1899 and officially opened on Valentine’s Day 1900, Chatswood Fire Station (originally known as Willoughby Fire Station) is notable for its Federation Classical Freestyle architecture, a rare example of this style among Northern Sydney fire stations.

In its early days, the brigade consisted of 17 volunteers, operating with only a manual fire engine, a single horse, and a hose cart. As the region rapidly expanded, so too did the brigade, with a permanent firefighter joining the station in 1917 to ensure round-the-clock readiness. That same year, the station was renamed Chatswood Fire Station, while the nearby East Willoughby station took over the Willoughby name, which it still holds today.

After serving the community for four decades, the station closed in 1945, due in part to the economic pressures of World War II and the increasing efficiency of motorised firefighting appliances. Since then, the building has been repurposed for various retail uses, at one point even serving as a billiards shop, and was listed under the Willoughby Local Environmental Plan in recognition of its local heritage value.

Willoughby Fire Station (later called Chatswood), c.1910 [Museum of Fire Collection]

Honouring the Memory

In 2024, the Museum of Fire was approached to research and contribute a heritage submission concerning the proposed demolition. Like many members of the community, we were deeply invested in ensuring that the site’s historical and social value was recognised and respected throughout the planning process.

Our submission received local media attention, with comments featured in both the North Shore Times and on ABC Sydney Radio, where I spoke about the station’s significance and its place in the broader story of firefighting in NSW. This kind of heritage activism is not a regular part of our work, but it was a valuable opportunity for the Museum to publicly represent our core values: the importance of remembrance, of place, and of respectful engagement with the past.

Ultimately, after review by the Independent Planning Commission, it was determined that the proposed demolition would proceed to allow for the development of urgently needed housing, offering long-term benefits for the community both today and into the future.

A Legacy Preserved in Spirit

It is, of course, sad to see a building with such character and local significance disappear from the streetscape. The fire station has long stood as a landmark and a symbol for both the firefighting and local communities. However, I believe that the proposed measures to integrate its architectural legacy into the new development, combined with dedicated interpretive signage, will ensure its memory is not lost.

The station’s story, and the people who worked within it, will continue to be remembered, not just through physical remnants, but through the stories we share and preserve. The Museum of Fire is proud to play a role in ensuring that legacy lives on, in amongst the hundreds of fire stations whose stories we preserve and share.

-Story by Ben Dickson, Acting CEO of the Museum of Fire