Penrith, New South Wales

The Museum of Fire is located a short walk from Penrith train station at Sydney's western outskirts. It is located in an old coal-fired power station and the building is interesting in itself. The collection of fire apparatus at Penrith is simply astonishing, and only about half of it is on display! I've never seen so many red trucks. The Museum covers the history of fire-fighting in Australia right from it's beginings to the prersent day. It has Australia's first fire engine on display. It also conducts education sessions about the hazards of fire and fire safety and survival for schoolgroups. The exhibits are all exceptionally well preserved and presented. There is a team of workers who maintan and restore the machines in the on-sire workshops. The museum is well worth a visit if you are in the area, and certainly worth a trip if fire fighting apparatus is in your sphere of interest.