History

On February 1913 a Mr F B Pitt started moves to have a volunteer fire brigade formed for the residents of Wendouree.
The proposal put forward was to erect a reel house and meeting room. Chief Officer Marshal visited Wendouree on the 7th march 1913 and stated he was in favour of forming the brigade and that sixty pounds would be required to set up the brigade with equipment, the funds were to come from local contributions.
Over the next few months funds were raised and Mr J Rowe license of the Blue Bell Hotel in Howitt Street made a bui

lding available for the brigade to use as a fire station.
( This Building was used by the brigade for the next ten years) The Brigade was officially opened on the 15 July1913.
Equipment supplied was a hand reel 500 feet of 21/2 inch hose a 'Y'coupling and branches.
The brigade operated from these premises for the next ten years. In 1923 a new station was built adjacent to the Wendouree State School in Howitt Street at a cost of 450 pounds.
The Brigade continued to operate until the year 1932 when the Country Fire Brigades Board decided to disband with a number of other brigades in the State. This was due to financial stringency of the board.
The old Station is at present part of the Wendouree Municipal Hall now owned by the Ballarat Grammar School.

With the rapid growth of the Wendouree area in the late 1950'swith both residential housing and a number of large industries establishing in the area the Wendouree Urban Fire Brigade was reformed on the 19th September 1960. A new fire station was erected in Gillies Street next to the Shire of Ballarat offices. The brigade was issued with a 1938 Didge Pumper.
The brigade was registered as a 'D' class brigade and given the task to give fire protection to the Wendouree and Alfredton areas. At the first meeting of the reformed brigade Tom Goldsworthy was elected Captain and Max Harris as Secretary.

On Wednesday the 16 December 1992, the Wendouree Fire Brigade moved into the new fire station in Learmonth Road. Built at a cost of $800,000, it was one of the largest in Country Victoria. Located next to the Ambulance Station it provided Wendouree and Alfredton with excellent emergency services. Officially opened on February 6th 1993 by the then acting Premier and Minister for Police and Emergency Services Mr Pat McNamara .
The Station has a 4 bay engine room, workshop, fully computerized communication room. meeting room and showers and toilets.

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