Station Focus: 388 Mullumbimby Fire Brigade 1924 - 2024

Establishing a Brigade in Mullumbimby 

In 1911 recommendations were put forward for the extension of the Fire Brigades Act 1909 to include Mullumbimby. In November of that same year, Inspecting Officer Thomas Nance (later Chief Officer of the New South Wales Fire Brigade, NSWFB, Today FRNSW) was dispatched to determine the suitability of Mullumbimby for the establishment of a dedicated fire brigade. The application of the Fire Brigades Act was proclaimed in the Government Gazette on 1 January 1912, however, disputes between the Mullumbimby Municipal Council and the Board of Fire Commissioners of NSW resulted in the removal of the district from the Act in December that same year.  

Mullumbimby Fire Brigade, c. 1980s [Courtesy of Mullumbimby Fire Brigade]

Just over a decade later Mullumbimby was once again brought under the Fire Brigades Act in 1924. The brigade was originally equipped with a horse-drawn turbine engine, and a crew strength of a Captain, Engine Keeper and eight Volunteer Firefighters. In the absence of a dedicated fire station, the brigade was housed in a portion of a shop owned by the brigade’s Captain C.J. Latter, until a block of land on Dalley Street was reserved for the construction of a station in 1926.  

In the early days of operation, the brigade of Mullumbimby, whilst equipped with plenty of hose and a turbine pump, dealt with the challenge of the town not having a reticulated water supply. Where most towns relied on reticulated water to feed fire hydrants, Mullumbimby relied upon water tanks, wells and the Brunswick River. The Mullumbimby Municipal Council recognised that these alternative sources needed to be readily available and thus over the next few years ensured clear pathways were available for the firefighters of Mullumbimby to access water. New wells were also importantly set up in East Mullumbimby in 1928, though a reticulated water supply would continue to be in demand and in 1930, the town effectively voted for the construction of water mains. By 1938 the wishes of the town were met, and the brigade could then access water through a dedicated hydrant system in conjunction with the river, water tank and well access.  

Railway Hotel Fire, 2 November 1963, attended by Mullumbimby Fire Brigade [Museum of Fire Collection]

Construction of the Fire Station  

Despite a site for the construction of a fire station being purchased in 1926, it would be a considerable period of time before a dedicated station would be constructed in Mullumbimby. Plans were initially submitted to the Board of Fire Commissioners of NSW in 1933, however, since these were rejected, new plans were submitted in 1937 with the invitation for tenders put out shortly after. Unfortunately, there was an absence of suitable tenders. Further difficulties were placed on the construction of the station following the outbreak of the Second World War, which affected the Board of Fire Commissioners of NSW ability to obtain cash loans to fund construction.  

Mullumbimby Fire Station c. 1980s [Museum of Fire Collection]

Beautification programs implemented by the Mullumbimby Municipal Council resulted in the subsequent planting of weeping fig trees on the site that was still vacant. In turn, the Board of Fire Commissioners of NSW were then requested to find an alternative site to construct the brigade’s station building.  

The new site selected was an allocated plot of land on the nearby Police Reserve with construction finally commencing on 15 November 1955, and the brigade officially occupying the station in September 1956.  

Mullumbimby Captains List 

Name	Appointment as Captain	End of Service as Captain
C. J. Latter	1925	1959
S. R. Starr	1960	1967
N. B. Stewart	1967	2001
D. J. Arthur	2001	2004
D. W. Dickie	2004	2005
J. Rushton	2005	Present

Mullumbimby Fleet List   

Year	Make/Model	Motor Engine Number	Type
1924	Mereweather Turbine Manual Pump	027	Horse Drawn Cart
1926	Garford 15 Hale	088	Pumper
1929	Hose Cart	138	Hose Cart
1939	Garford 15 Hale	089	Pumper
1956	Dennis 250/400	106	Pumper
1963	Dennis 250/400	219	Pumper
1969	Dennis F1	078	Pumper
1973	Ford Thames	326	Pumper
1979	Dennis D600 Mk1	384	Pumper
1985	International 1710A	522	Pumper
2001	Isuzu FTR-800 4x2	420	Pumper

 - Written by the Heritage Team