Historical information

STAWELL FIRE BRIGADE RED COAT
HISTORICAL DETAILS ON VICTORIAN URBAN FIRE BRIGADE
RED COATS

These words are gathered from two booklets written by Ex Captain Neil Bennett and Ex Resident Officer Jenean Sparrow.

At a special meeting held 27 November 1921 it was agreed to purchase enough cloth to make 30 Red coats.

Between 1921-1922 there was a disagreement between Stawell Urban Fire Brigade and the Country Fire Brigade Board over the wearing of the red coats. The brigade having purchased the red cloth, sent a request to the board for a donation toward the cost of the new coats which drew the reply that there was no permission granted for the red coats.

The Brigade did not accept the decision and called for tenders to supply the red coats and approached members of the Country Fire Brigades Board for permission to be granted. By February of that year permission was granted for the red coats to be worn on parades and at annual demonstrations.

A Mr Harding was the successful tender to supply the 30 red coats at one pound each, the Board to supply buttons and hooks. The red fabric was supplied by North Western Woolen Mills of Stawell.

In 1986 one of the oldest surviving items associated with Stawell Urban Fire Brigade was lost. After 113 years the Brigade lost its red coats, Stawell, Ararat, Ballarat and Geelong being the last brigades to wear the red coats. After many disagreements, first with the SFBB and then CFA the red coats were gone. Replaced with the Navy Blue jacket and trousers that you see today.

Physical description

Stawell Urban Fire Brigade Uniform (complete) Red Flannel Jacket. Black Trousers. White Shirt. Black Tie. G Carr CFA member