Balgownie Fire Station celebrates 100 years of operation and community service | Balgownie
Published: 30 Jun 2025 01:30pm
Fire and Rescue NSW’s (FRNSW) Balgownie Fire Station has marked a significant milestone - 100 years of service to the Wollongong community.
Several dignitaries, including Member for Wollongong, The Hon. Paul Scully MP; Federal Member for Cunningham, Alison Byrnes MP; Wollongong Lord Mayor, Tania Brown; and members of FRNSW's leadership team, joined Deputy Commissioner, Paul McGuiggan AFSM, at a function to celebrate the achievement.
Local Aboriginal Elder, Uncle Peter Button, delivered a Welcome to Country and conducted a Smoking Ceremony. Staff and students from Balgownie Public School also participated, performing the national anthem to open the event.
Balgownie’s firefighting history began with a simple shed serving as the original fire station. A more permanent structure was built in 1929, followed by an extension in 1960. The current station was opened in 1971 to accommodate newer, larger firefighting vehicles.
Over the past century, Balgownie’s firefighters have built a strong reputation for professionalism and community engagement, responding to a wide range of emergencies and delivering fire safety education to local schools and residents.
In addition to daily operations, firefighters from Balgownie were deployed to the recent flood event on the state’s mid-north coast, assisting with recovery efforts in Taree. Previously, members of the crew also deployed to provide support during bushfire and flood events throughout 2019 and 2020. Today, Balgownie Fire Station crews respond to between 400-500 incidents annually.
Quotes attributable to FRNSW Deputy Commissioner, Paul McGuiggan AFSM:
“To celebrate a centenary is special and this is a fantastic moment for everyone who’s been part of the rich history of Balgownie Fire Station.
“Firefighting operations have changed significantly over the last 100 years. But our people’s focus has always been on protecting the communities we serve and keeping them safe from the dangers of fire.
“Today, the 17 firefighters stationed at Balgownie have a modern fire engine and equipment to protect themselves and the community.
“This is a special day for the crew at Balgownie and the broader Illawarra community, and I thank everyone who has contributed to the history of the station over the last century.”
MEDIA NOTE - Photos of Balgownie’s centenary celebrations are available here: https://vimeo.com/1097398918/af126577d9?share=copy
Updated: 06 Mar 2026 6:26pm