Historical information

This fire extinguisher was used for commercial purposes in the Nullawarre Post office. The item was made in England by the Pyrene Co Ltd (1914-1971), one of the world’s leading manufacturers of fire fighting equipment in the early to mid 20th century. The extinguisher had a pump action and probably contained carbon tetrachloride. Nullawarre is a small agricultural settlement 25 kilometres south east of Warrnambool. The Nullawarre area was settled in the late 1860s and 1870s and today has a store and Post Office and a school. Charles Williams was the Post Master at Nullawarre in the early to mid 20th century and also delivered the mail. His wife, Vida was the Post Mistress.

Significance

This fire extinguisher is of interest firstly as an example of a common item used commercially in the past and secondly as an item that came from the Nullawarre Post Office, used in this commercial building in the early to mid 20th century.

Physical description

This is a metal fire extinguisher which has been painted but the paint is mostly worn away. It is cylindrical in shape with ridged areas at the base and top. It has a clip handle. The cylinder is empty.

Inscriptions & markings

‘Pyrene’