Historic Forrest Fire Station · 4 Empire Circuit

Canberra Fire Museum

Fire Brigade Historical Society of the ACT

The Society preserves artefacts of historical significance relating to firefighting services in the Canberra region. Formed in 1979, it collates and displays the history of fire services provided to the ACT community since 1913.

Visit the museum View the projects

WhenEvery Saturday, 10am–2pm

CostGold coin donation appreciated

Where4 Empire Circuit, Forrest ACT

The museum

Canberra and regional fire services, preserved

The Society aims to preserve a representative ACT fire vehicle from each decade back to 1913, showing how firefighting technology, uniforms, equipment and working conditions changed over time.

Based in the historic Forrest Fire Station, built in 1939 and closed as an operational station in 1983, the museum shares the fire-service story of Canberra and surrounding NSW communities.

Other vehicles are in storage or undergoing restoration as space allows. The Society also accepts invitations and arranged visits by appointment.

Restoration projects

Historic trucks brought back to life

Service history and restoration work completed by museum volunteers.

Restored and presented to the museum

1923 Albion

Canberra Fire Brigade’s second motorised appliance, the 1923 Albion marks the early move from horse-era equipment to motorised firefighting in the ACT.

1923: Entered Canberra Fire Brigade service as its second motorised appliance.
1930s: Modified as brigade duties and firefighting equipment continued to evolve.
Later: Retired from active service after its working life with the brigade.
c. 2008: Restored and presented to the Canberra Fire Museum.

Restoration

The restored Albion shows early motorised firefighting in Canberra, including period crew equipment and the practical change from horse-era response to engine-powered appliances.

Restored before museum purchase

1928 Dennis 250

The Dennis 250 did not serve in Canberra, but became an important display vehicle for the establishment of the Canberra Fire Museum.

1928: Built as a Dennis 250 fire appliance.
Service: Served with the NSW Fire Brigades in the Sydney area and later at Coolamon in country NSW.
Museum: Purchased by Commissioner Kerr as a flagship display vehicle for the Canberra Fire Museum.
Today: Displayed as a fully restored appliance.

Restoration

The 1928 Dennis shows the transition from horse-drawn bodywork into motorised firefighting. Crews still rode outside, exposed to the weather, and the appliance was already fully restored when purchased for the museum.

Restored by museum volunteers

1941 International KB6

Purchased in the United States for Canberra’s wartime firefighting fleet, the KB6 served the ACT for almost three decades before continuing its service in regional New South Wales.

1941: Purchased from the United States when wartime civil-defence needs made British equipment difficult to source.
1943: Entered service after its firefighting bodywork was completed in Sydney.
1971: Retired from ACT service and sold to the NSW Rural Fire Service at The Rock.
2014: Exchanged with the Lockhart museum for the 1922 Garford and returned to Canberra.
Today: Restored and displayed at the Canberra Fire Museum, with the before-and-after images showing the scale of the work.

Restoration

After the KB6 returned to Canberra, volunteers repaired flood-damaged timber and repainted the weathered appliance, preserving an important wartime civil-defence vehicle.

Photos coming soon

Updates coming soon

1955 Dennis F-12

A mid-century Dennis appliance from Canberra’s post-war growth period, the F-12 shows the move to enclosed crew travel and higher-reach ladder equipment.

1955: Built as a Dennis F-12 fire appliance.
1957: Entered the Canberra fleet during a period of major post-war growth.
Crew: Allowed firefighters to travel inside the appliance, unlike earlier open-cab vehicles.
Ladder: Carried wooden ladder equipment capable of reaching about five storeys.

Updates

Photos and confirmed restoration details will be added as the Society’s project file is completed.

Photos coming soon

Updates coming soon

1969 Dennis Jaguar

The Dennis Jaguar represents the later Dennis era in Canberra, following the F-12 generation with a more modern enclosed firefighting appliance.

1969: Entered the ACT Fire Brigade fleet as a later-generation Dennis appliance.
Maker: Built by Dennis, a long-running British manufacturer of specialist fire appliances.
Design: Shows the development of enclosed crew cabs and more modern brigade vehicle layout.
Collection: Preserved by the Society as part of the ACT fire vehicle timeline.

Updates

Photos, service milestones and restoration updates will be added as the Society’s project file is completed.

Returned to the museum in 2012

1974 Volvo F86

The Volvo F86 records the transition from traditional red appliances to diesel equipment and the trial of yellow safety colouring.

1974: Entered service as a traditional red appliance.
First: Became the first diesel-engined appliance in the ACT Fire Brigade fleet.
1984: Used as a trial vehicle for the yellow safety colour.
1989: Retired and loaned to NSW RFS Gunning.
2012: Returned to the Canberra Fire Museum.

Restoration

The appliance is displayed in its yellow Fire Rescue form, preserving a later chapter in ACT firefighting vehicle design and visibility.

1963 Thornycroft Nubian Mark III airport fire tender in service

Restoration project

1963 Mark III Thornycroft Nubian

This 6 x 6 airport fire tender brings Canberra Airport’s firefighting story into the museum collection after decades of aviation service.

1963: Built as a Thornycroft Nubian Mark III large fire tender for airport firefighting.
Service: Operated at Canberra Airport until the mid-1990s.
Collection: A rare preserved 1960s aviation firefighting appliance in the museum collection.
Today: Being restored by museum volunteers, with work focused on returning the tender to its red working finish.

Restoration

The project has been supported by ACT Heritage Grants, with volunteers preparing the large appliance for specialist painting and display.

Visit the museum

Open Saturdays

When: Every Saturday from 10am–2pm
Where: Historic Forrest Fire Station
4 Empire Circuit, Forrest ACT
Cost: Gold coin donation is appreciated
Bus: Bus number 58 will get you a short walk from the museum.

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Appointments and updates

Follow or enquire

The museum is a strong stop for heavy vehicle enthusiasts, fire-service history followers and families.

For invitations, arranged visits, group visits or historical enquiries, call the Museum on (02) 6207 8652 (you may need to leave a message), or message the museum through Facebook.

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