Building the first shed · 1960–1962

8^th February 1960

Council after gaining approval from the Dept. of Local Government who were funding the shed wrote to the brigade:

“You may know that the Progress Association has requested permission to erect a small annexe to your Brigade’s equipment shed and in this regard the Department of Local Government has offered no objection, provided the annexe has its own entry and there is no access between the storage shed and annexe, and subject to plans and specifications being submitted for approval by the Department.”

On the same date Council also wrote to the Progress Association:

“From the block plan shown, you will note there is a strip of land 1’6” on one side of the building and 3’6” on the other, within the area of 20’ x 20’ leased by Council from your Association. It might be thought desirable, from the viewpoint of design and construction, that the annexe be erected to the rear of the proposed equipment shed.”

9^th March 1960

Letter to Council from Progress Association

“We … wish to inform Council that we wish to let the matter of an annexe to the Fire Brigade Shed rest for the present time.”

12^th May 1960

Council wrote to the Department of Local Government, confirming that the lease was now registered, confirming the Department’s advice of 7^th August 1959 to allocate £305 towards the storage shed and seeking final approval to commence construction. The Department confirmed this in writing on the 25^th May 1960.

30^th May 1960

Council wrote to the Brigade:

“The Department of Local Government has now approved the plans and specifications for your brigade’s equipment shed and it is noted that when the building was first discussed your brigade offered to supply labour for its erection voluntarily. To be effective, it is considered that you would need to have in charge a builder, carpenter, or some other experienced person and I would be pleased to be advised on the current position with regard to both labour and supervision.

If labour could be supplied would you also advise the approximate date on which work would commence.”

21^st September 1960 1960/1961 Officers

President A. Nix

Vice President Mr Brotchie, N. Hutterman

Captain & Equipment Officer C. Horwood

Secretary A. Hoggan

Treasurer H. Anderson

Deputy Captains G. Williams, N. Smith

Equipment list submitted with names of officers:

3 x Axes

24 x Buckets

0 x Chemical Fire Extinguishers (2 x required)

1 x First Aid Kit

1 x Flame Thrower

1 x 1½” Footvalve with strainer

700’ x 2½” canvas hose

60’ x ¾” rubber hose

60’ x ½” rubber hose (40’ destroyed during 1959/60, 60’ required)

15’ x 1” suction hose

9 x 2½” hose couplings

2 x hose directors (branch)

1 x hurricane lamp (destroyed, 2 required)

6 x Macleod tools (4 destroyed, 4 required)

1 x L.D.D.A pump

25 x Knapsack sprays (metal) (On the 1961/62 list 13 of these were listed as being “obsolete & rusted out”)

1 x stirrup pump

6 x lightweight fire fighting rakes

0 x ¼” rope (60’ required)

0 shovels (2 required)

1 x 2½” hose & nozzle spanner (1 destroyed, 1 required)

2 x 2½” hydrant standpipes

1 x 175 gallon steel tank

1 x 1” low pressure taps

0 x tomahawks (2 required)

0 x Ex Army Chev. 3-ton truck fitted out as tanker with Northey Norvent Pump complete (1 required)

0 x water bags (2 required)

4 x watering cans (2 destroyed, 2 required)

0 x wire cutters (1 required)

1 x wetting agent

1 x bar for opening hydrant covers (1 required)

On the same date the Brigade wrote to Council

“Regarding the erection of the equipment shed our brigade is prepared to supply labour for same and our Mr H Smith of Glenhaven Rd being and experienced carpenter is quite prepared to take responsibility for the supervision and erection of same.

The date of commencement of building would have to be decided at our next meeting which will be held early in October and I will advise you immediately after this meeting.”

16^th November 1960

Council wrote to the brigade:

“With regard to the erection of an equipment shed, Council resolved to call tenders for such erection, and a surveyor will shortly peg the boundaries of the land leased from the Progress Association. Your brigade’s offer to supply labour and supervision is very much appreciated and will be kept in mind if, for some unforseen reason, no tenders are received.”

17^th November 1960

Council prepared the following ad to be inserted in the Sydney Morning Herald of Saturday, 19^th November, 1960 and the Advertiser of Thursday, 24^th November, 1960:

“Tenders – Construction of Equipment Shed

Tenders, endorsed, and accompanied by a preliminary deposit equal to one per cent of tender price, are invited and will be received by the undersigned until Monday, 12^th December, 1960, for the construction of an equipment storage shed at Glenhaven Road, Glenhaven.

Plan and specification may be inspected at  Council’s offices upon application to Chief Health and Building Inspector.

Lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted.”

D’Arcy Bros. Pty Ltd of North Manly wrote to Council requesting the tender documents. However no tenders were received.

25^th November 1960

Council received account from Surveyors Poynter & Cains for £10.10s for marking the boundaries of the leased area.

14^th March 1961

It is not clear if or when the tender advertisement was re-run. However J.K.L. Contracting Co of Parramatta offered a tender price of £549.12s on the 2^nd February 1961 and J. Oakes Building Contractor of Guildford offered a tender price of £480 on the 27^th February 1961. This was subsequently accepted by Council on the 14^th March and the builders notified of the result on the 23^rd March. On the 26^th April 1961 J. Oakes requested an increase of £30 to the Contract Price due to the foundation level being raised 15” and requiring more bricks and filling. This was accepted by Council.

April 1961 1961/1962 Officers

Captain & Equipment Officer C.L. Horwood

Secretary A. Hoggan

Deputy Captains G. Williams & N.Smith

May 1961

Accounts from the Electrician, Plumber and Builder were dated the 18^th, 21^st and 22^nd of May respectively, indicating that the equipment shed was completed about this time.

Figure 4 – Glenhaven Fire Shed

16^th June 1961

Letter from brigade to Council

“On behalf of the Glenahven Bush Fire Brigade, I would like you to convey to Council our sincerest thanks and appreciation for the erection and completion of our Equipment Shed at Glenhaven.

We would also like to make a request for an Electric Siren to be installed on top of the equipment shed for use in notifying personel (sic) quickly in times of danger.

There is also the matter of a rather large tree which was felled across the property to facilitate the building of the shed and which would be quite a problem for us to dispose of along with a considerable amount of rubble left by the builders. If the Council would help us in these matters we would be very much obliged.”

11^th August 1961

Letter from Council to brigade stating that funds for a siren are not available until the 62/63 season. “However, Kenthurst Brigade has requisitioned for a larger siren that the Grifco 777 already in its possession and this is being considered by the Department at the present time.”

The Grifco 777 has a still-air range of approximately 2 miles.

6^th February 1962 – Metropolitan Water Sewerage & Drainage Board grants exemption from rating whilst property is used for Bush Fire fighting purposes. However an account for water by measure at the ruling rate (at present 2 shillings 9 pence per 1000 gallons) will be issued later.

May 1962  Officers 1962 / 1963

Captain C.L. Horwood

Secretary A. Hoggan (resigned September 1962 and replaced by H. Holland)

Equipment Officer A. Nix

Deputy Captains G. Williams, N. Smith, N. Hutterman

7^th June 1962

Letter from Council to brigade

“A 3-ton truck has been delivered and this vehicle will be fitted out as a fire tender in Council’s workshop as labour becomes available, and handed over to your brigade when completed.”

This same letter stated that Kenthurst’s application for a larger siren will not be approved and Glenhaven’s station siren “is now being sought from funds for the period 1^st July, 1962 to 30^th June, 1963.”

20^th June 1962 Council pays £3 to the Progress Association for 3 years rental of the leased land.

1^st October 1962

Letter from brigade to Council required consideration of:

1. installation of warning siren and a warning code of 1 long and 2 short blasts to avoid confusion with any other brigade.
2. erection of an old light pole for drying canvas hose
3. supply of a portable fire control sign for use on the roadside
4. paint the name of the brigade on the equipment shed
5. the resignation of Mr. A. Hoggan as secretary due to “demands of business pressure” to be replaced by Mr. Harry Holland of the Glenhaven Post Office. (It was noted that 22 members attended the last meeting of the brigade).

16^th November 1962

Letter from brigade to Council requesting” a complete set of tools, including a jack for the Chev tanker which we have received, and also an extinguisher for the truck for electrical fires.”

19^th November 1962

Letter of reply from Council answered:

1. Department to provide Grifco 777 fire warning siren shortly and also that as the Department is no longer concerned at the use of the siren in relation to its distance from the Castle Hill Brigade, a warning code is not necessary.
2. Installation of a light pole to be put in hand
3. A portable Fire Control Point sign to be supplied to the brigade, such to be  3’ square, free standing with hinged leg, bearing the words “Glenhaven Fire Control Point”
4. The name of the brigade to be mounted on 4’ x 2’ flat iron sheet with frame and placed over the door of the equipment shed.
5. New secretary’s appointment noted

17^th December 1962

Letter from brigade to Council requesting amongst other things:

1. rails, brackets and steps be welded to the tanker for the transportation of our equipment, and that the tanker be painted. A quotation for this work was submitted.
2. a claim for reimbursement of £1.19s.10p, for petrol and oil used in the tanker for a fire call to Jasper Road, Baulkham Hills, on the 30^th November 1962.