Elsternwick Metropolitan Fire Brigade Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elsternwick Metropolitan Fire Brigade Station |
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| Location | 2-4 Selwyn Street, Elsternwick, Victoria, Australia |
| Built | 1895 |
| Architect | John Thomas Kelleher |
| Official name: Metropolitan Fire Brigade Station (former) | |
| Type | Listed place (Historic) |
| Designated | 22 June 2004 |
| Reference no. | 105216 |
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The Elsternwick Metropolitan Fire Brigade Station is an old fire station in Elsternwick, Australia. It's a special building because it's on the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List, which means it's important to Australia's history. It was added to this list on June 22, 2004.
Contents
A Look Back: The Station's History
Elsternwick started as a small village in 1851. For many years, it was mostly farms and had very few people. But in the 1880s, more people started moving in. Farms were divided into smaller blocks for houses and shops. The land where the fire station now stands was once part of a large farm. In 1888, this land was split up, and by 1892, it was used as a wood and coal yard. In 1895, the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) bought the land to build a fire station.
How Firefighting Changed in Melbourne
Before the late 1800s, fighting fires in Melbourne was a bit messy. There wasn't one big team working together. The first fire service started in 1845. Then, volunteer groups formed in different areas from the 1850s. By the 1860s and 1870s, some businesses and insurance companies created their own fire teams to protect their buildings. But because everyone worked separately, they weren't always very effective.
In 1885, the government decided things needed to change. They suggested creating one official fire service for Melbourne. This led to the Fire Brigades Act of 1891. This law created the MFB. The MFB first used an old fire station on Little Bourke Street. Then, their new main station, the Eastern Hill Fire Station, was finished in 1893.
Building a Network of Fire Stations
In 1892, the MFB planned to build a huge network of 36 fire stations across Melbourne. Thirty-two of these stations were brand new. From 1892 to 1896, these stations were built. Many different architects designed the stations, so they all looked a bit different.
The Elsternwick station was completed in 1895. Before this, Elsternwick had a volunteer fire brigade that started in 1890. The MFB took over this volunteer service in 1891.
The land for the Elsternwick Station was first leased from the Victorian Railway Commissioner. Later, the MFB bought it. At first, they thought about building a simple wooden station. But local people asked for something more solid, so it was upgraded to a stronger timber building. In 1895, a famous architect named John Thomas Kelleher was chosen to design the Elsternwick station. He also designed stations in Flemington and Yarraville.
Kelleher was a well-known architect who had worked for the government for many years. He designed important buildings like post offices and courthouses. The Elsternwick fire station was one of his first projects after he started his own private business in 1894. The station cost about 769 pounds to build, with 125 pounds just for the land.
What Happened Next?
The Elsternwick Fire Station was fully working by 1895. It served the community until 1926, when it closed down. It might have closed because the MFB was modernizing its network. After closing, it was sold to a timber company next door. After World War II, it was sold again and turned into a car garage called "Esquire Motors." During this time, many changes were made inside the building.
In 1989, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) bought the building. It became part of their TV complex in Elsternwick.
What Does the Station Look Like?
The former Metropolitan Fire Brigade Station is located at 2-4 Selwyn Street, Elsternwick. It was built in 1895 and is a good example of a small fire station from that time. It still has many of the main features you'd expect from a late 19th-century fire station. It also shows the work of the important architect, J. T. Kelleher.
The old Elsternwick Fire Station is a single-story building made of black bricks with red brick details. It looks very similar to the other two MFB stations that J. T. Kelleher designed in 1895. The most noticeable part is the large horseshoe-shaped arch. This arch was the entrance to the engine room where the fire trucks were kept. At the Elsternwick station, this arch is still the most important feature on the front of the building. It's made of special stone. Today, the arch is filled in with wooden panels, and there's a regular door for entry. Above the arch, there's a unique roof shape called an Anglo-Dutch gable and a symbol, probably from the MFB.
The front of the building also has fancy stonework. The roof is made of corrugated iron, but the original roof was probably slate tiles.
The inside of the building looks very different from when it was a fire station. It was changed into a mechanic's workshop and showroom. Some of the original decorative ceilings are still there. Since 1989, more changes have been made inside as the ABC uses it for offices and studios.
Of the three fire stations Kelleher designed in 1895 (Elsternwick, Yarraville, and Flemington), all of them are still standing today. The Elsternwick station is important because it's one of the few early MFB stations in Melbourne that is listed on a heritage register. This helps us remember how firefighting services grew in the late 1800s.
Condition of the Building
The old fire station is in good condition. The inside has been changed a lot since it closed in 1927, especially when it was a car garage. But the outside still looks very much like it did originally, even though the roof has been replaced.
Why is it a Heritage Site?
The former MFB Fire Station in Elsternwick was built in 1895 by J. T. Kelleher. It was one of 36 stations built across Melbourne between 1892 and 1896 by the new MFB. This was part of a big plan to create a wide firefighting network.
The building is important because:
- It shows how firefighting services developed and expanded in Melbourne during that time.
- It's a part of Elsternwick's local history, showing how public services grew in the area.
- It's a good example of a smaller fire station from the late 1800s in suburban Melbourne.
- The unique horseshoe arch at the entrance clearly shows its original purpose as a fire station.
