Parramatta Volunteer Fire Brigade, 1871, mla5743165h3
The Parramatta Volunteer Fire (PVF) Brigade was formed in 1859 at the
instigation of Mr. Menser, who went on to become its first Treasurer. The Empire from
November 1860 contained the following article on the PVF’s formation by a Mr.
Shackles … it will be remembered that on
the 17th October, I859, some fourteen or fifteen gentlemen met together at the
Union. Inn kept at that time by Mr Nathaniel Payne for the purpose of taking
the necessary steps for forming themselves into a volunteer fire company, for
the protection of life and property in this town.
Mr. Shackles also pointed out that the small centrally
situated building where they met should be pointed to as one of the first
public buildings raised by a body of their fellow townsmen. They were also
given for practice and in cases of emergency a little engine, stationed at the
Barracks, George Street.[1]
The force was evidently well supported and held its 20th anniversary
in the Domain. The procession through streets included the Insurance Brigade
under Superintendent Brown, Superintendent Camb of Volunteer Brigade with a No.
2 engine followed by a luncheon attended by superintendents from Woollahra,
Paddington and even Mudgee. Over these twenty years they worked out that there
had been 60 fires in Parramatta and of these 5 were serious. Perhaps more
importantly they were reputed to have saved over 30,000 pounds worth of
property event though they had no water supply and instead depended on wells
and water carts.[2]
By 1895 the Evening News announced that the Colonial Secretary, Mr.
Brunker, had promised a grant of £100 to the No. 1 Parramatta Fire Brigade for
the purpose of erecting a fire station after being asked by Mr. O'Reilly, the '
member for the district.[3] Two years later a deputation
representing the PVF Brigade waited upon the Acting-Premier to ask for a grant
of £500 pointing out they were protectors for the many Government buildings in
the district, such as asylums. Mr. Brunker’s reply acknowledged the good work and
the importance of the Parramatta district and would be glad to consider their representations.[4]
Presumably they had some success as the picture above is from the book, Beautiful parramatta published in 1905. Even so by the time
of the fortieth annual meeting of P.V.F. Brigade Mr. E. J. Love, its president,
said they had £44 17s 9d in their general account, and £10 18s 6d to the
building fund. Over the course of that year, 1899, they answered 15 alarms only
two fires of which were serious, but the good work was continuing and now all 18
members were insured by the Colonial Mutual Fire Insurance Co.[5]
Geoff Barker, Research and Collections Coordinator, Parramatta Council Heritage Centre, 2014
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