Station Focus: Moss Vale Fire Brigade 1894 - 2026

The first Moss Vale Fire Station, c.1895 [Image courtesy of Moss Vale Fire Brigade]

The question of fire protection in Moss Vale was brought to the forefront of the town’s consciousness after a fire in April 1893, which nearly destroyed several properties near Aland’s Hotel on the corner of Argle Street and Lackey Road. The incident highlighted the town’s acute lack of fire protection, which led to successful discussions within the Moss Vale Council to form a local volunteer fire brigade. In early 1894, the council purchased basic firefighting equipment, leaving the only remaining hurdle of finding volunteers to operate the equipment. Advertisements were placed in the Scrutineer and Berrima District Press in July 1894 by the council, and after a successful recruitment campaign, the Moss Vale Volunteer Fire Brigade was formed in August 1894 under the leadership of Captain Salmon. Attention then turned to purchasing a hose reel to effectively transport their equipment to fires, leading the brigade to acquire a hose reel manufactured by W. H. Robertson of Sydney, which was delivered in May 1895. Without delay, they tested their new appliance in a practice exercise on 24 May, better preparing them to defend the town against fire. To further support and govern the Moss Vale Fire Brigade, they were brought under the Fire Brigades Act of 1884, on 12 July 1895, which set it apart from the numerous council-run country brigades prevalent at the time. To be brought under the Act, the Moss Vale Fire Brigades Board had to be comprised of a representative appointed by the government, the insurance companies, and the Mayor of Moss Vale. Their purpose consisted of providing formal oversight of the brigade’s operations and funding.

Now with firefighters, proper equipment, and a governing body in place, attention turned to the erection of a fire station. Members of the Moss Vale Fire Brigades Board sought advice from Superintendent William Bear of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB, now Fire and Rescue NSW) regarding the design requirements of a fire station. A delegation travelled to Sydney in June 1896 and inspected several MFB stations for inspiration. A centrally located site in Moss Vale was then chosen on Argyle Street near the railway bridge, and by June 1897 plans had been prepared by Mr. E. Vennard, and Mr. W. Jones was engaged to carry out the construction. The resultant building, constructed of rusticated boards with string moulding and a tiled roof, comprised an engine room, watchroom, bathrooms and sleeping quarters. Great care and pride was taken to ensure the station was not only functional but also visually pleasing, with rough-cast panels, a decorative tiled roof, and thoughtfully designed engine bay doors. The foundation stone was laid by Mayor E. Goodridge on 22 June 1897 and by June 1898 the station was completed.

As firefighting services across New South Wales continued to grow, amendments to the Fire Brigades Act in 1909 created a new centralised governing body to better manage the various local run fire brigades across the state. These changes led to the dissolution of local fire brigade boards and brought operations under the control of the Board of Fire Commissioners of NSW (BoFC), the governing body of the newly created NSW Fire Brigades (NSWFB, today Fire and Rescue NSW). As a result, the Moss Vale Fire Brigade and its property were formally absorbed by the NSWFB in 1910.

The second Moss Vale Fire Station, July 1973 [Museum of Fire Collection]

After seventy years of service, and despite favourable inspection reports and strong community pride, the original station was deemed inadequate by May 1968. The BoFC resolved to construct a new station, resuming land on Elizabeth Street in August 1969 for this purpose. Tenders were invited in October 1970, and Adolfo Pittolo & Co. was awarded the contract in January 1971. Construction was completed in late 1971, with the Moss Vale Fire Brigade taking up occupation in early 1972. The original fire station remained a cherished memory, and its 1897 foundation stone was relocated to the new station, where it still remains today.

Moss Vale Fire Station, 2026 [Image courtesy of Fire and Rescue NSW]

Throughout its life, Moss Vale Fire Station has undergone renovations to meet the needs of a growing community. In 2001, major works included an extension to the rear of the building and the addition of a new main entrance facing the street. In early 2025, Moss Vale was included in a $13.9 million investment in firefighting infrastructure across Western Sydney and the Southern Highlands, signalling further upgrades. Works commenced on 11 June 2025 to improve firefighter health and safety. New exhaust extraction systems were installed to provide cleaner air, while transitional areas and dedicated work and wash zones reduced contamination risks from fire scenes. The renovations also introduced separate male and female changerooms, along with an expanded engine bay and tanker shed to accommodate modern fire appliances. From its volunteer beginnings in 1894 to its place within today’s Fire and Rescue NSW, Moss Vale Fire Brigade continues to adapt to modern standards while maintaining its long-standing role in protecting the local community.

Historic Fleet List 

Year	Make/Model	Motor Engine Number	Type
1895	W. Robertson	089	Hose Reel
1909	-	-	Hose Cart
1926	Garford Type 15	059	Pumper
1929	-	148	Hose Cart
1938	Garford Type 15	037	Pumper
1942	Garford Type 75	051	Pumper
1945	Dennis 250	165	Pumper
1960	Bedford J1	068	Pumper
1968	Ford D200	350	Pumper
1979	Bedford MFR 4x4	739	Tanker
1981	Dennis D600 Mk 2	450	Pumper
1985	International 1710C	690	Pumper
2002	International 1710C	666	Pumper
2005	International 1810C	272	Pumper
2005	Isuzu FTR-900	562	Pumper
2022	Mercedes Atego 1629	468	Pumper

Captain’s List

Name	Appointment as Captain	End of Service as Captain
A. Salmon	1894	1900
A. Bender	1900	1905
E. Steele*	1905	1907
G. Dawson	1907	1915
E. Steele*	1915	1931
T. Wotton	1931	1941
F. Browne	1941	1968
H. Chapman	1968	1975
B. Whatman	1975	1989
D. Harris	1989	1996
T. Wheeler	1996	1999
R. D’Adam	1999	2018
I. Thorpe	2018	Present

*Reappointed

 Want to learn more about the history of Moss Vale Fire Brigade? You can purchase a copy of the Moss Vale station book either in-store or online by visiting www.museumoffire.net/product-page/station-books

- Story by Museum of Fire Heritage Team