First fire brigade and station building with original fire tower2

About Us

Name: Central Goldfields Art Gallery
Address: Australia
Telephone: +6135461 6600

The Central Goldfields Art Gallery is located in the heart of Central Victoria - in Maryborough, Victoria. It is situated on the traditional lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung and offers respect to Elders, past, present and emerging. First opened in 1996, our Gallery is located in the historic former Fire Station building built in 1861. Featuring a diverse program of regularly changing exhibitions, including works from the permanent collection, curated exhibitions and touring exhibitions. The Gallery is owned and operated by the Central Goldfields Shire Council. The Gallery is open to the public Thursday to Sunday 10am-4pm. Free entry.

GALLERY/FIRE STATION − Historic Timeline

PrE 18ooS – CONTINUING

Dja Dja Wurrung People, the Traditional Owners of the land that on which the Gallery/Old Fire Station now stands.

1861

Maryborough Fire Brigade (originally the “No 1 Fire Company”) was formed in 1861. The first Fire Station was simply an engine house built for a cost of £250 to house the original fire engine, “Neptune”, which transported a manually operated pump worked by two teams of eight men. It was pulled to fires by a team of four horses.

1862

A photo of the original fire bell from the old fire station bell tower in Neill Street Maryborough which is now part of the Art Gallery. Bell now resides outside the new CFA building on the Pyrenees Hwy in Maryborough Vic.

Fire Bell, cast in Sheffield by Naylor, Vickers & Co. installed in the wooden belfry. It weighed 4.5 cwt (228 kg) and was first rung on 2 May, 1862. It is now displayed at the front of the current fire station In Napier Street.

1861−1917

The first Maryborough Fire Brigade Captain was Thomas Casey (1829–1919).He served for a record 56 years.

1888

The current fire tower was built in 1888 at a cost of £285. Following the construction of the new Town Hall, the sound of the fire bell did not carry effectively, so a higher tower was built.

Circa 1900

1907 Addition to Gallery Gallery Arched doors

Numerous additions to the fire station were made.

1981

The Fire Brigade moved to its current location on Napier Street Pyrenees Highway) in 1981.

1982

The Country Fire Authority handed back the old fire station to what was then called Maryborough City Council.

1996

Black and white photo of the facade of the old fire station which is now the Ccentral Goldfields Art Gallery taken before the 2022 redevelopment

The Old Fire Station became the home of Central Goldfields Art Gallery which was officially opened in 1996.

2013

Restoration of the historic fire station tower was completed in June 2013 with the help of the Victorian State Government and the Central Goldfields Shire Council. The bell tower is now on the National Trust Register.

2021−2022

The Victorian State Government provided Central Goldfields Shire Council with $1.7 million to redevelop the Gallery with an additional investment of $273,000 from council. Nervegna Reed Architecture were appointed as architects on the project. The design of the adjoining Indigenous Interpretive Garden has been led by the DJAARA (Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation).

2023

Gallery reopened after redevelopment 4 March 2023

2024

garingilang gatjin wii. This is the name of the new garden space next to Central Goldfields Art Gallery that are Djaara words for water and fire garden. This garden has been designed collaboratively with Dja Dja Wurrung Elders and artists who formed a wartaka or advisory group. Dja Dja Wurrung Group CEO Rodney Carter explains that “The Garden will strengthen relationships between people and Country and provide opportunities for non-Indigenous community members to learn about Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and our shared responsibility to protect it.” The garden will be a welcoming space for our local community and visitors to our Shire to come and reflect, learn and share culture as part of an active and engaged approach to reconciliation. garingilang gatjin wii was jointly funded by the Victorian Government and Central Goldfields Shire Council and was officially opened in August 2024.

More About Our History

Historical information about the Gallery and the Old Fire Station has been compiled with the assistance of the Maryborough Midlands Historical Society Inc. and Maryborough Fire Brigade.