Fire Services Museum of Victoria

The Fire Services Museum of Victoria traces the history of firefighting and fire safety through a collection of more than 10,000 items from Victoria, elsewhere in Australia and overseas. Its displays cover the Country Fire Authority, Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade and Fire Rescue Victoria, bringing together appliances, uniforms, helmets, badges, models, historical photographs and other memorabilia. Vintage fire vehicles are displayed throughout the year, making this a particularly relevant stop for anyone interested in emergency services, transport, local history or practical technology.

The museum occupies the former headquarters station of the Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade, a building described by the organisation as one of its prized exhibits. That setting gives the collection a direct connection to the services and people it documents. Displays extend beyond vehicles and equipment to include personnel histories, accounts of past fires, brigade history and material connected with fire stations and families. The museum also maintains photo galleries and an online history, with a virtual tour offering another way to explore parts of the collection.

Much of the museum’s character comes from its volunteer team. The organisation is run by volunteers, many of whom are retired firefighters, while others have links to Fire Rescue Victoria, the former MFB, the CFA and other fire-related agencies. Their experience supports a more personal interpretation of the collection, particularly for visitors who want to understand how firefighting work and equipment have changed over time. The museum also has a restoration workshop in Newport, where vehicles and appliances are restored as closely as possible to their original condition; visits to the workshop can be arranged in advance.

Families are catered for with a shop carrying fire-history and children’s items, along with downloadable colouring sheets, puzzles and word games on the museum’s website. Children’s rides are not provided, but the collection itself offers plenty for young visitors to investigate. Groups and schools can arrange visits outside the standard public sessions, and the museum and its vehicles may also be booked for selected special occasions. Solo visitors, family-history researchers and anyone with a connection to Victorian fire services will find different ways into the collection, from photographs and personnel records to stories contributed by fire-service families. Located in Melbourne and listed for the Richmond area, it is a focused museum for understanding the people, machinery and history behind firefighting in Victoria.