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

The museum placard identifies this Albion as Canberra Fire Brigade’s second motorised appliance, now restored and displayed with period crew equipment.

1923: Entered the story of the brigade as its second motorised appliance.
1930s: The display notes later modifications and a change in duty role.
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 is presented as an early motorised firefighting appliance, showing the shift from hand and horse-era equipment into motorised brigade service.

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; the display placard notes it was already restored when purchased.

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 that helps show the shift from open early appliances to more protected, purpose-built fire engines for a growing Canberra.

1955: Built as a Dennis F-12 fire appliance.
Service: Part of the ACT Fire Brigade story as Canberra expanded after the Second World War.
Design: Represents a move toward enclosed crew travel and higher-reach ladder equipment.
Coming: Full service history, photographs and restoration notes are being prepared.

Updates

Images and confirmed restoration details will be added as the Society’s project notes are finalised.

Photos coming soon

Updates coming soon

1969 Dennis Jaguar

The Dennis Jaguar continues the museum’s decade-by-decade story of ACT fire appliances and the changing design of brigade vehicles.

1969: Entered the ACT Fire Brigade fleet as a later-generation Dennis appliance.
Service: Followed the Dennis F-12 era, with more modern enclosed firefighting vehicle design.
Collection: Preserved by the Society as part of the ACT fire vehicle timeline.
Coming: Images, service history and restoration updates will be added soon.

Updates

This project is reserved for confirmed photographs and a short restoration story as the details are checked.

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: Identified on the display as the first of the diesel-engined appliances.
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

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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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