Gawler Fire Brigade

**Fast Facts**
Type of organisation:	Community Service
Also known as:	Metropolitan Fire Service - Gawler
Street name:	Ayers
Street suffix:	Street
Town or locality:	Gawler

At the end of 1890, a new Fire Brigades Act passed through Parliament. The local Gawler brigade until this time was voluntary, with the Corporation cottage acting as the fire station. It was a bucket brigade until the water pump was operational. Council received notice that the volunteer brigade was to be disbanded from 31 December, 1890, at the same time as the Fire Brigade Board was dissolved. The mayor, William Cox, met with the local volunteers who agreed to remain on stand-by until the new arrangements were made. At the Council meeting of 5 January, 1891, Councillor Lucas remarked on " the exceeding alacrity the Government had displayed in the matter - contrary to the usual custom, in as much as while the Fire Brigades Act was only assented to on December 23, on the following day notices were issued disbanding the local fire brigades. The disbanding of the local fire brigades called for the most emphatic denunciation (Hear, hear). It was a scandalous piece of business". (BUNYIP 9 January,1891)

The cost to the Corporation contributions to the running of the brigade were increased from one sixth to two ninths of expenses. Although ordered to disband the local brigade, Council had to apply to come under the new Act. Within four months, the new Fire Brigades Board went about reorganising Gawler's brigade. The mayor's annual report cites the new arrangements and reports on their implementation :-

1st. That a more central station be provided.
2nd. That a permanent man be appointed as officer in charge of the District at a salary of 125 pounds per annum.
3rd. That three auxiliary firemen be appointed at a salary of 12 pounds per annum each.
4th. That a light Victorian handreel be provided in place of the one now in place of the one now in use.
5th. That 500 feet of 2 inch canvas hose and two copper branches be supplied.
6th. That two alarms be erected from approved points to the station.
7th. That electric bells be fitted from the station to the firemen's houses.

This arrangement has practically been carried into effect, except that the Board agreed to rent the Corporation cottage and the adjoining shed formerly used by the Brigade. The Corporation foreman being deprived the use of the cottage necessitated an increase of his wages, but the rent paid by the Fire Brigades Board will result in a profit to the Council. (BUNYIP 27 November,1891) Although the brigade was occasionally called to near-by fires in the other Council Districts, those Councils refused to contribute to the cost of the fire station, which did not please some of the Gawler Councillors at all.

Please click here to view photos of the Gawler Fire Brigade, when it was in Jacob Street. It evidently opened on 13-12-1910.

Please Click Here to read the 48 pages of "My Memories of Gawler - 1923+" - by Colin Hillier - page 17.