Museum of Fire

The Museum of Fire is focused on collecting and exhibiting the history of Firefighting. It focuses on Firefighters and their Firefighting equipment. The museum also has a strong focus on educating families about the dangers of fire and preserving the heritage of the community’s bravest. The museum preserves and has on exhibit many old and new fire engines.

A Tour of the Museum of Fire

1916 Garford Type 64 Fire Engine
1919 Garford Type 75 Pumper
1934 Dennis 300/400 Pumper Fire Engine

1916 Garford Type 64 Fire Engine

The 1916 Garford 64 Fire Engine represents one of the early motorized pumpers that replaced the horse-drawn engine. This fire Engine shows the development of pumping fire engines, with the importation of American chassis and motors plus local Australian constructed bodies and pumps.

The Garford Chassis has a four-cylinder side-valve petrol engine. The transmission is a 3-speed type with a chain drive to the rear axle. The wheels are of wood with solid rubber tires. With this Fire Engine, the crew was exposed to the weather, and the driver had to wear goggles. The Garfords were acquired from the Garford Co. in Lima, Ohio, which was one of America’s larger truck manufacturers until the late 1920s.

1916 Garford Type 64 Fire Engine

Title: 1916 Garford Type 64 Chain Drive Fire Engine
Builder: Garford Co. Lima, Ohio & NSW Fire Brigades Workshops
Years: 1916
Museums: Museum of Fire

1919 Garford Type 75 Pumper

The 1919 Garford Type 75 Pumper followed the success of the Type 64 Garford chassis and was slightly larger. Power was from a Buda designed four-cylinder petrol engine driving through a 3-speed gearbox.

This model was the last vehicle to use solid rudder tires as later vehicles used pneumatic tires from the late 1930s onwards. The solid tires would have made for a bumpy ride as up to six firemen who could sit on the sides (three per side) plus two in the front seat.

1919 Garford Type 75 Pumper

Title: 1919 Garford Type 75 Pumper
Builder: Garford Co. Lima, Ohio & NSW Fire Brigades Workshops
Years: 1919
Museums: Museum of Fire

1934 Dennis 300/400 Pumper Fire Engine

This 1934 Dennis Pumper Fire Engine was designated, 300/400 model, could pump 300 GPM (1350 1/m) to 400 GPM depending on the pressure that was developed. The Dennis 2-ton chassis was powered by a Dennis 4 cylinder side valve petrol engine of about 6-litre capacity and 4-speed gearbox.

The crew had little protection from the elements as they traveled on the open seating of the bodywork. Fire Brigades preferred to recruit ex-sailors, who were as exposed to the elements as part of the job in both services. However, there was always the risk of firemen falling off these engines. Many firefighters were injured, and some killed on the way to and from fires.