SPECIAL ISSUE
Volume 11 No 1
CELEBRATING THE 75th ANNIVERSARY OF THE OPENING OF PITT STREET FIRE STATION
Nov 2019 - Jan 2020 Est. 2010
PRIORITY MESSAGE Journal of the Auckland Fire Brigade’s Museum & Historical ISSN 2324-2779
Contact Auckland Fire Brigade’s Museum & Historical Society Inc. P.O. Box 68444, Wellesley Street Auckland, 1145, New Zealand Registered charity number: 45510 Patron Murray Binning Management Superintendent: Terry Hewitt Deputy Superintendent: Vacant (NZFS Liaison) Secretary/Editor: Colin Prince Treasurer: Kevin Farley Committee Graeme Booth Peter (Sprats) Doughty Grant Manning Forbes Neil Tony (Scottie) Scott John (High-rise) Walker Gary (GT) Walker Tom Cotter Ric Carlyon NZFS Ex Officio Member: Fire Region Manager Membership fees: Full: $15.00 Associate: $10.00 (overseas) Brigade/Corporate: $50.00 Membership year: 1 April—31 March
Membership NZ Fire Museum Network Fire Museum Network - USA NZ History Federation Inc. MOTAT Society - Affiliate UFBA - Associate member NZ Ex Firefighters Assn. Fire Heritage Network - UK
Priority Message is the quarterly journal of the Auckland Fire Brigades Museum & Historical Society Inc. and is sent free to all members, the National Library and other Historical Societies in the Auckland area. Please feel free to pass it onto others that may find it of interest and encourage them to join the society. We actively seek photographs, stories and other information for publication in this journal or adding to our growing memorabilia collection. Anything that is related to the Fire Services, not only Auckland City, but the Auckland Fire Region (Mercer to Wellsford) which is the societies area of interest.
Cover: Demo City Station 1976
“A Headquarters Station Worthy of Auckland” The saga of the making of the city’s new Central Fire Station, 1933 - 1944. In 1933 members of Auckland’s new Metropolitan Fire Board were stating the obvious: the 30 year old central fire station in Pitt Street was no longer fit for purpose.
Central Fire Station, 1940, with motor appliances painted war-time grey. Auckland Fire Brigade Centenary 1874 - 1974, Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board
The first hold-up was finding a suitable location. Sites at Mechanics Bay, Khyber Pass, on the waterfront and near Victoria Park had been considered. The preference was spare land in Symonds Street near Mount Street. But this idea was abandoned after local residents objected, saying a fire station there would lower property values.
Old Central Fire Station opened in 1902 Milne, N Z Graphic - Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections NZG-19040514-37-2
It had been designed for a staff of 8, while 40 were now employed. It catered for horse-drawn appliances, longsince replaced with motorised fire engines. The building had twice been extended leaving little free space on the property. The place lacked facilities essential for a modern headquarters fire station - there were insufficient residential quarters on site (the Fire Board rented rooms nearby), no space for training (it was done in the street) and no recreational facilities. Despite the Board’s resolve to build a new Central Fire Station as quickly as possible, replacement of the 1902 premises turned into a saga with delay after delay.
Partington’s windmill had been a landmark since 1851 Beattie and Sanderson - Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 7-A11306
The second choice, land on which the deteriorating Partington’s Mill stood in Symonds Street near Karangahape Road, turned out to be subject of a legal dispute and was therefore unavailable: “not for sale”. In October 1936 it was announced a site for the new fire station had been chosen, at the corner of Pitt Street and Greys Avenue. It had its detractors who said there would be traffic problems as appliances turned out into Pitt Street, that there was no
opportunity for expansion and a massive retaining wall would be required at great expense on the Myers Park boundary. Notwithstanding, a loan of £30,000 was sought to purchase the land, occupied at the time by shops, houses and a boarding house. One of the premises had been the first shop opened by J. H. Rendell before relocating to his well-known department store in Karangahape Road. Once the site had been purchased the Fire Board would raise a bigger loan to pay for construction of the new station complex.
war effort and consequently was in short supply, difficult to obtain… and, if it could be sourced, it was at increased prices. Superintendent Bill Wilson’s attention was diverted from the business of the new station when in December 1940 fire brigades were ordered to be on a wartime footing with thousands of auxiliary firemen to be recruited and trained. Wilson was appointed Auckland District Fire Controller, a new position he held as well as Superintendent. “In the event of enemy action at home, firefighters will be at the front,” an official warned, “we are getting prepared”. Auxiliary firefighters were enrolled, fire stations were sand-bagged and women were enlisted for control-room and driving duties. Appliances were augmented with trailer pumps, all of which were repainted in “camouflage” grey. Sirens were banned in case they were mistaken for air-raid alerts. While work continued on the staff quarters, planning for the new station building was well advanced by July 1941, but there was another setback. The Government Building Controller, whose job it was to approve all buildings in wartime austerity, had to give the go-ahead. It was November 1941 before all approvals were obtained and tenders called. Meantime the first of the firefighters’ flats were finished and occupied by New Year 1942, followed by a start on the fire station itself and further accommodation, flats fronting Poynton Terrace.
Shops at Greys Avenue and Pitt Street corner had to go James D Richardson - Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 4-2305
But some land-owners challenged the purchase price offered by the Board and there was further delay until arbitration was completed in September 1938, clearing the way to proceed, followed by the securing of a loan for £116, 000 for construction of the station and the detached quarters. Tenders were called for Stage 1, the quarters, and the last of the old shops were demolished. At this point World War 2 intervened. Contractor Alan Grinter began work in October 1940, his tender for £44,444 having been accepted to build four blocks of accommodation, including 22 “family” apartments, each with a living room, bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom and laundry. The war caused delays when some materials, like steel was diverted to the
This block in Poynton Terrace was demolished looking towards Pitt Street to make way for firefighters’ accommodation James D Richardson - Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 4-1811
It was hard to foresee another delay but progress was threatened again, this time by a shortage of skilled labour because of increased numbers enlisting in the Armed Services and owing to the station’s lower priority in war-time projects. In October 1942, 9 months into construction, it was thought a realistic finish date would be February the following year, 1943. Yet In May that year building was still underway and it was
found that the complex would cost, at £176,000, nearly onethird more than the original estimate.
adjacent apartments for firefighters and their families. “No longer cramped, with spacious offices” the ‘New Zealand Herald’ said, “the new station includes space for the ‘flying squad’ located right next to its appliance”. Very quick responses were recorded… out the door within 15 seconds of the alarm. Newspapers also credited Superintendent Bill Wilson with the project’s success.
His service spanned the transformation from horse-power to motorised appliances, he saw independent fire brigades taken into Fire Board administration and the Brigade’s expansion to Auckland’s suburbs. He moved from smoke helmets to selfcontained breathing respirators, he saw the introduction of the high pressure With the front of the Station complete, work continues on the turbine water pump, he witnessed the proliferation of street fire alarms and on tower Auckland War Memorial Museum top of his everyday duties he dealt with the special demands imposed on “The Government requisitioned materials we had for wartime Auckland. Now he had taken the construction, and now the price of these has doubled,” said brigade to state-of-the-art, modern, the Chairman of the Fire Board, “the increase is beyond our facilities. ‘The Auckland Star’ newspaper control”. In September 1943 an additional loan was approved said “from a room in the new building he to cover escalating costs. In November, it was indicated the can look back with understandable pride project would cost double the original budget. to the achievements of the service and At last, in April 1944 work was completed and the transfer his part in those achievements… and across the road from the old station began. now the new Central Station designed The move was systematic… quarters were the first to be and equipped to serve the city's needs as occupied, then offices… and at a chosen “quiet time” and in a far as can be seen into the future”. well-planned operation, the fire alarm receiving equipment and The new complex was officially opened control room staff were transferred, accompanied by the by the Minister of Internal Affairs, William appliances. Parry, on November 20th 1944. Paid and Newspapers of the day waxed lyrical about the new station and volunteer fire-fighters, wartime auxiliaries accommodation, pointing out adequate space for all and fire policemen from throughout appliances, loud-speakers to announce calls, a high (25 m) Auckland paraded to celebrate the event tower for training, the recreation hall-cum-gymnasium with a military band providing the music. complete with a movie projector, and the single rooms plus
Superintendent William Laird Wilson
Firefighters at the opening ceremony
The Chairman of the Board, Barry Brigham, in his speech, revealed the total costs to date were £162,600 for the station together with accommodation for families of 28 married men and 33 single firefighters. Two Upsets Two distasteful issues marred celebrations to mark the new station’s opening. During the ceremony the Minister, Bill Parry, said he regretted the inevitable factors that had caused delays, which meant the project took 8 years to complete.
discussion about purchasing covered appliances to protect the men from the elements, thus preventing weather-related sickness. At this stage Bill Wilson compared firefighters with those on active service. “We've got the best of our men serving overseas, fighting in the worst conditions imaginable, and in comparison, firemen today lead the lives of gentlemen. The trouble with the firemen we have at present is that many of them are older men, who are feeling the strain. Also, our firemen, like many other men, don't take enough physical exercise to keep fit. Molly-coddle people, and they'll get softer and softer". The Auckland Star headlined its report of the meeting with “Are Auckland’s Firefighters Soft?” which immediately put the Superintendent off-side with his men, triggering a storm of protest and controversy which die-hard Unionists later said marked the turning point in deteriorating industrial relations. It was with this raw nerve, so recently exposed, that the new Central Station was opened. Firefighters later accepted Bill Wilson’s assurance that he had been reported out of context. Both of these, in their own way, must have taken the gloss off celebrations on the day. The old fire station initially provided space for the wartime Emergency Fire Service and was then sold to the St John Ambulance Association for their headquarters station to house the ambulance fleet. Benefactor Sir Frank Mappin donated a sum to cover purchase of the building and renovations. The premises have since been converted to shops, with offices and apartments above. The old Central Fire Station’s look-out tower remains, protected by a Heritage Order.
The New Station The new station gave the Brigade every facility that had been Hon W. E. Parry: candidly voiced impossible to provide in the cramped, 1900-era, old station, designed for horse-drawn appliances. For a start the engineregrets room now catered for six motorised appliances and provided Rebuking Board Members, he candidly accommodation on station, and in quarters, for firefighters. Then said “ I am disappointed that the first there were the mess rooms, kitchens and offices. The choice of location, Symonds Street, fell hall/gymnasium on the first floor took up the whole space above through because the hold-ups faced at the engine-room. It soon boasted a boxing ring and keep-fit the Pitt Street site would have been equipment while for social events there was kitchen, 35mm averted: construction would have been movie projectors and a billiard table, the latter sold in the midcompleted before the war with its 1960s, traded for television sets. stringent restrictions and disruptions”. Other essentials in the new building included: This sentiment must have rankled with Control room: several times over the years enlarged and those responsible for choosing a site for relocated within the station the new station. They probably hadn’t Mechanical Workshop: which not only maintained recovered in time to hear the Minister go appliances, but repurposed/rebuilt them on to congratulate the Fire Board on its Water Office: where the maps of Auckland city and fire-protection of the city along with “a suburbs’ water reticulation were held headquarters station worthy of Auckland Hose Depot: new hose was issued, leaky hose repaired, - and comparable with that of any city in old hose made into “bushy beaters” the world”. Uniform Store: this over the years saw different styles, materials, helmets and badges. The second upset was caused by The yard: provided space for parades and training as Superintendent Bill Wilson. At a Board well as basketball and other sports The 20m tower: was perfect for drills, hook-ladder meeting just a month before the practice and line rescues opening ceremony there had been
The tower: had a hoist inside to hang up wet hose to dry An underground duct: built into the foundations, was used to practice sewer, etc rescues Bowsers were later installed so appliances could be refuelled on station.
Quarters – a Community Life in the New Station, with so many families living closely together in quarters, there was a real community spirit in what was a small village. This was amply described by the late Molly Wilson, Fire Chief Lloyd Wilson’s wife… “Apart from the Christmas Party which was the annual focus, and the movie nights, picnics were organised at Point Chevalier beach and during school holidays a group of us would take the tram-car down to the Farmers Department Store so the kids could spend time in the rooftop playground”.
from cradle days, grew up on station like the Hurst’s new son who arrived home from hospital about the time of the official opening, November 1944. Engagements were announced with the address of the bride or groom given as Central Fire Station. Brides left Central Station for the church, and their vows. There were those who died in quarters and whose wakes were held on station. Then there were those firefighters given brigade funerals held at Central Station: some died while in the execution of their duty and plaques on the engine-room wall honour them, as well as firefighters who made the supreme sacrifice in wartime. Others who served the Brigade faithfully over many years also had their funerals at Central Station… their “Last Call”. This close community of firefighters’ families ended in the mid-1980s when the accommodation blocks were demolished to make way for the Regional Headquarters building. This left, across the yard in the fire station, duty crews with their latest appliances to continue to provide Auckland’s fire protection around the clock.
RCC September 2019
Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand: “N.Z. Herald”, “Auckland Star” “A Chronicle of the Auckland Fire Brigade, 1857 - 1965” – Reg Moore, The New Zealand Firefighter, published by the N.Z. Federated Fire Brigades Employees Industrial Association of Workers
Quarters - family accommodation on station Auckland Fire Brigades’ Museum and Historical Society
Back in quarters there would be card evenings at least weekly, with families taking it in turn to host these evenings of Rummy, Poker and 500. It really was “family”. Community living on station was punctuated with life’s milestones - births, deaths, engagements and marriages. Kids,
Reminder: The 75th Anniversary weekend will be held on 16th & 17th of November. The Saturday will be the Official day along with 2 Gold Star and 1 Double Gold Star presentations. (Invited guests) The Sunday will be an open day from 1000-1500. There will not be any parking on station, please use public transport, the Civic car park or Wilson Parking in Cross Street. The 75th anniversary weekend is a partnership between: Auckland Fire Brigade Museum & Historical Society Inc. Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) Museum of Transport & Technology (MOTAT)