Eastern Hill Fire Station

Former Eastern Hill Fire Station

Eastern Hill Fire Station is the central fire station of Melbourne, Australia, located in on the corner of Victoria Parade and Gisborne Street, opposite St Peter's, Eastern Hill, one of the highest points in the city of Melbourne. The building has been recognised as historically significant by the Heritage Council of Victoria and is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.

The station was built in 1891 and opened on 3 November 1893, replacing the original fire station of Melbourne at 447 Little Bourke Street. It was designed by architecture firms Lloyd Taylor & Fitts, and Smith & Johnson, and constructed by Thomas Cockram & Co. The complex contained living quarters, stables, workshops, and offices. The watchtower was initially manned 24 hours a day.

Firefighters lived on the premises until the 1970s. In 1972 a new annex was added to the complex, with the emergency vehicles now exiting onto Gisborne Street instead of Victoria Parade. The newly refurbished station was opened on 8 March 1979. Parts of the old complex are still used for offices. The Fire Services Museum of Victoria, now holds the majority of the bottom floor of the old station. The Museum contains exhibits pertaining to the Old MFB Board, the Chief Fire Officer, a showcase of fully refurbished fire appliances, a display of International Firefighting garments and a dedication to the MFB's sister firefighting organisation, the Country Fire Authority.

Eastern Hill Fire Station is known as Fire Station 1 inside the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.

External links

• Article on the Fire Museum from The Age
• Eastern Hill Fire Station entry on the Heritage Council of Victoria Register
• Fire Services Museum of Victoria