Metropolitan Fire Brigade Building Sydney

Metropolitan Fire Brigade Building Sydney

Located at 211–217 Castlereagh Street, the heritage-listed Metropolitan Fire Brigade Building is one of Sydney’s oldest operational fire stations. Designed by Colonial Architect James Barnet, the building dates from 1887–1888. Its Victorian Free Classical architecture features decorative stonework, arched entrances and Italianate detailing. Originally, horse-drawn fire engines operated from the station, with stables positioned behind the building.

As firefighting technology advanced, the station underwent several modifications. An extension followed in 1912, while further redevelopment accommodated modern firefighting equipment. Despite these changes, much of its nineteenth-century character survives.

Sydney Open 2026

The Sydney Open event on 1 November 2026 provided opportunities to explore historic buildings normally closed to the public. This allowed us to access areas and historic interiors. Some of the great features we saw included decorative tiled walls, pressed-metal ceilings and original architectural details.

Metropolitan Fire Brigade Building Sydney Fire Brigade Museum

The station also contains a small heritage museum featuring historic firefighting equipment and memorabilia. Its collection includes uniforms, helmets, vintage apparatus and artefacts documenting the brigade’s development.

These displays illustrate the transition from horse-drawn equipment to modern emergency vehicles. The museum is not generally open for unrestricted public visits, but you can look through the windows to see the larger displays. However, because of Sydney Open, we were able to walk around inside.

There a much larger Museum of Fire which operates separately in Penrith.

How to Get There

The building stands at 211–217 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, near the corner of Bathurst Street.

From Town Hall Station, walk south along George Street, turn left into Bathurst Street, then right into Castlereagh Street. The journey takes approximately five minutes.

Alternatively, Museum Station is a short walk away.