TIMES GONE BY: Fire Brigade beginnings

LOCAL agitation for a fire brigade began around 1906 by Mr H Kiddle and by May 1910 a public meeting was held at the School of Arts to form a Fire Brigade committee.

To form a brigade the Shire Council had to lodge a government application to establish a Fire Protection area. This enabled them to contribute a third of the brigade funds through rates, with the other two thirds provided from insurance companies and the fire brigade board.

A month later the Fire Brigade Divisional Officer Mr Nance visited the area to investigate sites for a fire station and in November he announced Council’s successful application and the allocation of a horse-drawn pump engine, 1000 feet of hose and other gear, along with Mr D P O’Keefe’s selection as Captain.

On 31 April 1912 the ship Noorebar landed a two-cylinder petrol motor fire extinguishing pump, a hose and equipment for the fire brigade at the jetty. These were temporarily housed in Mr O’Keefe’s coach shop in High Street and the fire bell was set up in his yard.

Shortly after, the firemen were given their first lesson, which included a demonstration of the engine’s pumping power and a drill.

The first firemen selected included G Burton, F McGrath, M Osberg, F Manns, G Graham, J Pike, H Drummond and J Monahan.

In 1914 a permanent site was found on the corner of Castle Street (which then extended to Park Avenue) and High Street, where a timber shed was erected and concerns grew over water sources.

Presented with a new fire hose in June 1917 many people, including the Shire President, wondered, “what was the use of hose without water?”.

In 1919 a new brick station was built, with a suggestion the old shed be let out as a fowl house.

Eventually, a small well on the property was enlarged, several fire hydrants were connected to the town water, and a reservoir built on the hill opposite Coffs Harbour High School.

By Karen FILEWOOD