SA Country Fire Service Promotions Unit - History Section
Promoting the Historical foundations of the Service

One Tree Hill Brigade - 1960 to Present

The One Tree Hill EFS (Emergency Fire Service) was formed in 1960 following a public meeting of One Tree Hill residents on 18 November 1960. The meeting was attended by 30 residents and the purpose of the meeting was to find out what activities the Munno Para Council had arranged to help prevent fires for the coming fire season. Eldred Riggs, the Munno Para Council Fire Supervisor, addressed the meeting where he provided information on the Council’s fire prevention plans. The residents were concerned that their nearest community fire protection was a fire truck that had to respond from the Munno Para Council depot near Gawler about 15 kilometres away. By the time this truck arrived a fire could have spread far and wide. Fire protection was also available from 12 private fire trucks in the district but these were primarily used by the local landholders to protect their own properties.

I think it is important to name the 12 founding members because the brigade of today has grown from their enthusiasm and commitment.

They were - C. Smith, J. Barritt, R. Hall, H. Barritt, C. Durrant, F. McKenzie, J. Stone, L. Walter, D. McKenzie, R. Walter, G. Slater, and R. Barritt.

The brigade’s first fire truck was a 1944 Ford V8 truck with a water capacity of 400 gallons (1800 litres). A wooden hut located in the One Tree Hill church yard off the main street of One Tree Hill was the first fire station. The brigade requested the Council to supply a more suitable structure and in 1962 a two bay shed was built in the main street of One Tree Hill by the Munno Para Council.

In 1965 the brigade expanded when a new Bedford appliance supplied by the Munno Para Council was commissioned on 25th September.

The arrival of the new Bedford made the members realise that their Ford appliance was now 20 years old and would need to be replaced when funding was available. The brigade was determined to acquire another modern appliance to complement the Bedford. Brigade members with their families conducted successful fund raising events over several years. By 1969 they had raised enough money to contribute towards the purchase of an International C1300 Series four wheel drive and were able to retire the old Ford. The brigade designed the body for the new truck and it was constructed by P. A. Wotton of Uraidla in the Adelaide hills.

Fred Kerr, Director of the SAEFS, commissioned the new International appliance on 8th February 1970. The brigade was now equipped with two modern appliances and was able to provide effective fire protection for the district. The new appliance carried 280 gallons (1300 litres) and its four wheel drive capability increased the brigade’s ability to access fires in difficult off road country.

The annual number of callouts received by the brigade from 1960 up to the mid 1970s was up to 20 with an average of 8 callouts per year in the first decade. As the district developed the callouts gradually increased and because of the increase the brigade identified a need for a small command vehicle to provide better coordination of fire fighting operations. In 1975 a new Suzuki four wheel drive was purchased for $2,000 entirely with brigade funds.

In the late 1970s brigade members were looking to the future and recognised that they would need a larger purpose built fire station. The brigade asked the Council to acquire a block of land for a future fire station and in 1977 the Council paid $12,000 for a half-acre block. It was to be ten years before a new station was built.

A new ACCO 610 appliance was commissioned in November 1981 by Peter Malpas, Deputy Director CFS, and featured the latest design in rural fire appliances. With the increase in the number of houses in the district the brigade had recently acquired two sets of breathing apparatus which were stowed in a specially designed locker on the appliance.

Another 4 wheel drive appliance was acquired in 1985. This was a short wheelbase International C1300 formerly in service with Smithfield CFS. The vehicle became surplus because Smithfield CFS acquired a new appliance.

Construction started on the new $380,000 station in November 1987 and Munno Para Councillor Martin Lindsell laid the foundation stone at a ceremony on 18th November. Mrs Jo Gapper, Mayor of Munno Para, officially opened the station in front of 200 guests on May 29 1988. The new station provided an excellent home for the brigade and featured six appliance bays, large combined meeting and operations room, kitchen, workshop, storage room, change room, communications room, separate male and female toilets, shower, and Captain’s office.

A new 34 appliance was delivered in December 1991. The commissioning ceremony was held on Australia Day 26 January 1992 at the Craigmore oval where Smithfield CFS also had their 24 commissioned at the same ceremony.

In 1993 CFSHQ relocated a 6000 litre bulk water tanker from Naracoorte CFS to the Para Group as a group resource to be garaged and crewed by One Tree Hill CFS.

The modernisation of the fleet continued with a new Isuzu 14 being commissioned in 1995.

The Hino 24 was replaced with a new Hino 34 in 2007.

This information has been sourced from the One Tree Hill Brigade

Brigade Stations

1988 to Present - Blacktop Road, One Tree Hill
Photographer, CFS Promotions Unit - Jun 2009
Google Map reference - Longitude 138.766878 Latitude -34.718491

Captains

Life Members