With the upcoming official opening of the new fire station (our fourth) I thought I would search through the Wodonga and Towong Sentinel to glean some history of the Wodonga fire brigade.
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October 1891
A Committee had been appointed to establish a fire brigade at Wodonga.
The Council contributed 10 pounds and it was thought there would be no difficulty collecting 70 or 80 pounds from the general public of the town.
January 1892
A deputation to the Council asked that steps be taken to secure the registration of a fire brigade for the town.
Mention was made of the "present wretched water supply" which would be wholly inadequate in case a fire were to break out.
The Council's share of the cost of maintaining a brigade would amount to 15 or 16 pounds.
Late 1893
It was decided to relocate a building to the Shire Hall yards to use as a Fire Station.
The building had been used as a change room at the swimming baths, from Lake Huon (now Belvoir Park Lake) .
About 1897
A new Fire Station was built opposite, on the north western corner of Elgin and High Streets.
This was on railway owned land.
July 1913
The old wooden look-out and bell tower was removed and replaced with a new iron structure 40 feet high, with a look-out 20 feet high.
A deep and solid foundation of concrete was prepared, and would be enclosed by a picket fence which would prove both useful and ornamental.
January 1938
The Country Fire Brigades' Board notified the Shire Council that it would accept the transfer, free of cost of part of an allotment in High Street on which to build a new fire station.
August 1939
The new fire station was to cost in the vicinity of 1300 pounds and became operational in March 1940 until 1976 when the Stanley Street station was built.
Practices with dry hoses were held in Hovel Street for many years, and later, continued in High Street in front of the Shire Hall.
Practice night for the brigade was an event in those days.
Many people turned out regularly to see the firemen in action.
Wodonga Historical Society meets on the first Tuesday of each month (except January) in the Wodonga Football Club rooms at 2pm.
To view the society's collection, visit the display room at 19 South Street, open on the first Sunday of the month, 1-4pm.
