Albion Fire Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Albion Fire Station |
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Former Albion Fire Station, 2013
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| Location | 42 Bridge Street, Wooloowin, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919–1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1925–1927 |
| Architect | Department of Public Works |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Albion Fire Station (former), Albion Fire Station | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 28 February 2003 |
| Reference no. | 602246 |
| Significant period | 1920s (historical) 1920s-1930s (fabric) |
| Significant components | residential accommodation – fire officer's house/quarters, gate – entrance, loggia/s, fire station, garden/grounds |
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The Albion Fire Station is an old fire station located at 42 Bridge Street, Wooloowin, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It's a special building because it's listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's important to history. The Department of Public Works designed it, and it was built between 1925 and 1927.
Contents
A Look Back: The Fire Station's Story
The old Albion Fire Station is a large, two-storey building made of red bricks. It stands out on Bridge Street. It officially opened on January 17, 1927. At the opening, the Home Secretary, James Stopford, pulled a rope. This opened the doors, rang an alarm, and sent two fire engines speeding out! Everyone was amazed at how quickly the station could respond.
Why Was This Fire Station Built?
This building was designed by the Department of Public Works. It became the main fire station for the north side of Brisbane. A similar station was built in South Brisbane for the south side. Before these, most fire stations were small wooden buildings. The Albion Fire Station is one of the few large brick fire stations from that time that is still standing.
In the early days, it was hard to set up fire brigades in Brisbane. But by 1889, a permanent fire brigade was finally created. As Brisbane grew, more fire brigades were needed. In 1921, all the fire brigades in Brisbane and its suburbs joined together. They were then controlled by the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board.
The Albion Fire Station replaced an older station in Windsor. The new Board bought the land on Bridge Street for this new station. It was known as the Albion Fire Station. It served the community until 1961 when a new station was built.
How Was It Paid For?
Building the Albion and South Brisbane fire stations was expensive. The Queensland government couldn't pay for it all. So, they got a loan from the Commonwealth Bank. The Albion Fire Station, being the smaller one, cost about £9,978.
What Was Inside the Fire Station?
The original plans for the building are hard to find. But we know it was made of brick and concrete. The ground floor was for the fire brigade. It had space for two fire engines and a repair shop. There was also a rest room for nine firefighters and a billiard room! Other rooms included a kitchen, a locker room, and a watch room. The district officer even had a private bathroom.
The upper floor had two apartments for the fire officers and their families. Each apartment had its own entrance, a kitchen, bathroom, living room, and bedrooms. They also had front and side verandahs.
Today, the building is no longer a fire station. In 2003, an architectural firm used the ground floor. The Queensland Family History Society used the upper floor. Even though it's changed, you can still see how it was set up as a fire station. In 2014, Neylan Architecture moved into the building.
What Does the Old Fire Station Look Like?
This large building is made of red and orange bricks. It sits in a garden setting on Bridge Street. It looks over the Brisbane-Sandgate railway line.
The front of the building faces east onto Bridge Street. It has a central section with two big arched entrances. These entrances are now filled with glass. Above them are two open porches on the upper level. A cream-colored border runs along the top of the building. The words "ALBION FIRE STATION" are written on the front.
On each side of the central part, there are sections with windows. These windows have decorative brickwork around them. There's a low brick wall on the south side with an arched gate. Above the gate, it says "Albion Lodge."
Special Details
A special stone is set into the wall on the south side. It says "READY AYE READY." This stone was placed on December 1, 1925, by the Chairman of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade Board. It also lists the board members.
The south side of the building has three sections of windows and a covered walkway called a loggia. This loggia has wide concrete steps and was the main entrance to the upper level from the side. The north side has a simpler entrance porch.
The back of the building has large doors on the ground floor. A wooden staircase goes up to the back of the upper level.
Inside the Building
When you enter the ground floor, you step into a large central space. Rooms open off this main area. There are two big rooms in the corners, filled with light from many windows. There's also a stairwell and a large meeting room. On the north side, there are smaller rooms and another stairwell. The walls are painted, and the ceilings have a textured finish. You can still see an old urinal in the back toilet!
The stairwells lead up to the upper level. This floor is divided into two halves, like a mirror image. Each half has rooms off a central hallway. The rooms on the outer corners open onto enclosed verandahs. The central rooms at the front open onto the open porches.
The roofs of the verandahs are covered with terracotta tiles. The main roof is made of corrugated metal.
The Grounds
The building is surrounded by a suburban yard with grass and trees. There's a wooden shed in the backyard. A freestanding brick chimney also stands nearby. Narrow concrete paths run along the sides of the building. The property next door is used as a dirt carpark. It's shaded by large mango trees, which make the area feel like a lush garden.
Why is it a Heritage Site?
The former Albion Fire Station was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on February 28, 2003. This means it's protected because it's important to Queensland's history.
- Showing History: It helps us understand how fire fighting services developed in Brisbane. It was built when fire brigades were becoming more organized.
- A Rare Example: This fire station is a rare example of a large fire station from the early 1900s. It shows how fire stations were designed back then, with space for fire engines downstairs and homes for firefighters upstairs. It's special because it's the only one left of four big brick fire stations built at that time.
- Beautiful Design: The Albion Fire Station is a strong and beautiful building. It's a landmark on Bridge Street. Its detailed brickwork makes it stand out.
- Important Work: It's also important because it shows the great work done by the Department of Public Works in the early 1900s.
