As part of the Ballarat Heritage Festival, the Ballarat Fire Brigade will open its doors to the public.
The Ballarat Fire Brigade boasts the oldest operational fire station in the Southern Hemisphere. Established in 1856, the Ballarat Fire Brigade has remained operational, serving the community, for 170 years.
Come and experience life as a firefighter throughout the years. Walk through the old station and witness history, photos, artefacts, tales of the old times and more. Then make your way through to the new station, look over the firetrucks, have a squirt of the hose and enjoy a sausage off the barbecue.
Through its 170 years, the brigade has primarily operated as a volunteer organisation having only had a handful of paid firefighters between the 1950s and 1990s. The brigade also prides itself in being not only futuristic but also innovative, having been the first in Australia to have a working telephone connected between the two Ballarat watch towers, electric street alarms and the first in Victoria to purchase a steam pump.
Today the brigade houses a minimum of four appliances, attending over 600 calls for help a year. The brigade continues to house many artefacts and museum pieces including the 1938 Dodge Fire Truck. The whole family will enjoy the day out, the Ballarat Fire Brigade provides kids experiences and adults alike.
