Ararat brigade moves into new station

Ararat Fire Brigade members recently celebrated the completion of their new fire station.

Ararat brigade moves into new station

Photos: Jeydon Nancarrow

We are very proud of this project and what we’ve achieved. It has been an immense effort by CFA headquarters and brigade members.

A great deal of planning and consultation went into this project, starting with an idea and discussions 10 years ago. Funds were allocated two years ago and we moved into the planning and construction phase over the past 12 months.

I appreciate the patience and hard work of the brigade to relocate into temporary housing for a short time during the demolition and construction period. This old District 16 headquarters in Barkly Street was far from perfect, but full credit to the brigade for working through the difficulties and continuing their response capability over the busy fire season.

Brigade members made a considerable contribution in time and funds to ensure the new fire station met current and future needs. There’s a four-bay drive though motor room, larger meeting room, office, local command facility, kitchen, rear storage shed, full concrete rear yard and pergola area.

The brigade also successfully applied for a grant to help fit out the station with security, electrical and furnishing amenities.

Ararat brigade Captain Rob Starick said the new station had some important advantages compared with the old one.

“The additional space means we have room for all our trucks and we are able to safely get in an out when responding to callouts,” Rob said.

“The new station comfortably houses the local command facility and the increased office size will allow us to run two lots of training at the same time.

“I’d like to thank our brigade members who’ve worked very hard over a number of years to raise funds for the station.”

Last October Ararat brigade celebrated its 160th birthday. Its first fire engine was a Shand & Mason fire pump, hand-pulled and hand operated, which was delivered to the brigade in January 1861. The brigade received its first motorised fire truck, a Maxwell, in 1919. This was replaced by a Dodge pumper in 1930.

The brigade moved into the new station this month and there will be an official handover in the middle of the year.

Commander Ian Morley

/CFA News Release. View in full here.