Yeronga Fire Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yeronga Fire Station |
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Building as of November 2018
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| Location | 785 Ipswich Road, Yeronga, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919 - 1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1934 |
| Architect | Atkinson and Conrad |
| Official name: Yeronga Fire Station (former), Queensland State Emergency Service Office | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 23 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 602144 |
| Significant period | 1934 (fabric) 1934-1974 (historical) |
| Significant components | driveway, residential accommodation - superintendent's house/quarters, shed/s, dormitory, watch room, recreation area/room/building/hall/centre, engine room / appliance bay (fire station) |
| Builders | William Allen Miller |
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The Yeronga Fire Station is an old fire station in Yeronga, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It's a special building because it's listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, meaning it's an important part of Queensland's history.
This building was designed by a company called Atkinson and Conrad and built in 1934. It's made of timber and has two floors. When it was first built, the ground floor was for the fire trucks and firefighters. The top floor was a home for the fire station's boss, called the superintendent. This was a common design for fire stations in Brisbane back then.
The fire station stopped being used in 1974. After that, it was used by the Queensland State Emergency Service. Later, it was sold and is now used as offices for a business.
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History of the Yeronga Fire Station
The former Yeronga Fire Station is a well-known building on Ipswich Road in Yeronga. It stands near Yeronga Memorial Park.
For many years, Brisbane struggled to create a good fire fighting service. Between 1860 and 1868, several attempts were made, but they didn't last. They often lacked enough money, equipment, and water.
Finally, in 1868, the City Volunteer Fire Brigade was formed. It had better rules for money and management. In 1881, a new law called the Fire Brigades Act helped make things even better. This law said that the fire brigade would get money from the Queensland Government, the Brisbane Municipal Council, insurance companies, and public donations.
In 1889, Brisbane hired its first full-time firefighters. A new main fire station was built in 1890. This building was designed by Henry Wallace Atkinson, who would later be part of the firm that designed the Yeronga Fire Station.
Yeronga became a popular suburb for people to live in the 1930s. More and more homes were built there. Because of this growth, the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board needed to build new fire stations. The Queensland Government helped fund this program.
The Yeronga Fire Station was the first fire station in Yeronga. It was built by William Allen Miller and opened on April 18, 1934. It was designed with the fire station on the ground floor and a home for the superintendent on the first floor. Other similar fire stations were built in places like Coorparoo (1935), Nundah (1936), Wynnum (1938), and Hamilton (1941).
During World War II, the United States Army used Yeronga Park as a military camp. There's a story that a dummy of Adolf Hitler was hung from the fire station's awning during this time.
The Yeronga Fire Station closed in 1974. Firefighting operations moved to a new station in Acacia Ridge. The building was then used by the Queensland State Emergency Service. In 1999, it was put up for sale. Today, it is used as offices for a business.
What the Building Looks Like
The former Yeronga Fire Station is a two-storey building made of timber. It has a red tiled roof. The lower part of the building has weatherboards, and the upper part has fibro sheeting with timber strips.
There's a small roof-like structure, called an awning, over the main entrance for the fire trucks. This awning has decorative metal edges.
Inside the Station
The ground floor of the building was where the fire station operated. It had:
- An engine room for the fire trucks.
- A watchroom where firefighters kept an eye out.
- A dormitory where firefighters could rest.
- A kitchen and bathroom.
- A recreation room for relaxing.
Large timber doors opened into the engine room. The floor of the engine room was concrete and used to have red tracks to guide the fire trucks. The watchroom was at the front, next to the engine room. There was also a pole that firefighters used to slide down quickly from the upper floor, but it has been removed.
All the rooms on the ground floor have timber walls and ceilings. The dormitory had built-in cupboards.
The Superintendent's Home
A timber staircase at the back of the station leads up to the first floor. This floor was the home for the fire station superintendent. It had:
- Three bedrooms.
- A living room.
- A kitchen.
- A bathroom.
- A hall.
There was also a laundry room near the stairs. The entrance to the home was through a small porch. The rooms inside still have their original timber walls and ceilings. Some parts of the home, like the kitchen and some bedrooms, have been changed over time to suit its new use as offices.
Outside the Building
Around the station, there's a concrete path. Concrete tracks from Ipswich Road lead to the back of the station. Two timber sheds have been built behind the station for storage and extra office space.
On November 27, 2014, the building was damaged by hail and rain during a big hailstorm in Brisbane.
Why it's a Heritage Site
The former Yeronga Fire Station was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on April 23, 1999. This means it's important for several reasons:
- Shows Queensland's History: It's a great example of how fire stations were improved in Brisbane suburbs during the 1930s. It also shows how Yeronga grew during that time.
- Shows a Type of Building: It's a good example of how Brisbane's suburban fire stations were designed and planned in the 1930s. Many of its original features inside are still there.
- Looks Good: The building has a simple, strong look. It's a well-known landmark on busy Ipswich Road.
- Important to the Community: It's one of several important public buildings located in Yeronga Park.
- Connected to Important People: It shows the work of the architectural firm Atkinson and Conrad. This firm designed many fire stations in Brisbane over many years.
