Living in Australia, fires are a serious- and sometimes deadly- threat. But keeping us safe, against the odds, are our incredible fire fighters! And if you’re keen to explore the history of fire and firefighting in Australia, head straight to the Museum of Fire, in Sydney’s western suburb of Penrith.
A tribute to our long history of fires and fire fighting, the Museum of Fire has an impressive permanent collection, with highlights including an 1891 Shand Mason Steamer, a 1929 Ahrens Fox PS2, and many more fire engines, from across the ages. There’s also an extensive collection of fire fighter’s outfits, as well as the original Headquarters’ Switchboard, from the fire station in Sydney’s Castlereagh St. There’s also a cool, interactive kid’s space, where kids can live out their fighter dreams. One of the best experiences you can have a t the museum is to take a ride on a vintage fire truck!
Just down the road, you’ll find another fascinating place at The Penrith Museum of Printing. Run by an incredible team of volunteers, the museum is dedicated to preserving the traditional techniques and art of letterpress printing. Visitors can watch the machines in operation, with the oldest dating back to the 1800’s.
Museums are not only great places to visit, they’re portals to another era- and a reminder of just how far we’ve come!
FOR MORE INFO
MUSEUM OF FIRE
@mof_sydney
museumoffire.net
THE PENRITH MUSEUM OF PRINTING
@penrithprintmuseum
printingmuseum.org.au
