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

Port Elliot Brigade - 1958 to Present

As far back as the Port Elliot & Goolwa District Council have been keeping records there has always been some type of fire fighting operation taking place in the Port Elliot area.

From when the town of Pt Elliot was founded in the 1850s to the early 1940's the only fire fighting equipment that was around was what local farmers had on their properties. Many of these people had built up their own fire fighting units. These would range from Horse drawn carts with drums of water on them to farm trucks and trailers with a tank & Pump mounted on them. Of course there was also the conventional way of fire fighting using wet bags and small tree limbs. These were called fire beaters.

Back then one of the most time consuming tasks was to collect water. So in certain locations around the rural districts small loading platforms were built. These were located near the edge of roads so vehicles didn't have to go hunting for water. On these platforms either small tanks or drums of water were kept there. Several of these platforms still stand today. (One of these are located on Crowsnest Road up in the hills behind the township of Port Elliot) In the 1944/45 fire season there were several large fires in the Port Elliot fire district.

"a lack of fire fighting equipment in the Port Elliot area"

The District Fire Supervisor at that time was Mr. George Carnegie Smith and he felt that there was a lack of fire fighting equipment in the Port Elliot area. Mr. Smith was also the local councilor for Port Elliot so at the next meeting of the Pt Elliot & Goolwa Council he stressed that very point. He moved a motion that various pieces of equipment be purchased. This included 25 knapsacks, 2 standpipes & several lengths of hose. The motion was put to the meeting and was carried. Also during the 1944/45 season Councilor Smith moved a motion that the Council, on behalf of the Port Elliot Firefighters solicit for a trailer pump through the Civil Defense Department. This motion was supported and carried. In 1945 a trailer pump was purchased by the council from the Civil Defense Department. The Civil Defense were also approached about a suitable siren for the town. An Air Raid siren was obtained and was housed on the council chambers. It was decided that because the Institute and the Council Chambers were opposite each other and the trailer pump was behind the Institute and someone had to go to the chambers to turn off the siren, that the crew should all meet at the chambers.

The trailer pump was housed in a private shed located on the property immediately behind the Pt Elliot Institute. A rental fee of 5/- per week was paid to the owner Mrs. Bowden. The towing of the trailer pump was up to the people who turned up to fight the fires. So what usually happened was that the first one to turn up to the shed with a suitable vehicle to tow this unit was it. In 1959 this trailer pump was used to assist in the fighting of a very large fire that started up the hills back behind Crowsnest Hill.

1959 fire - townspeople moved to Horseshoe Bay

It started approx. 3 miles away from the town, but due to the strong Northerly winds fanning the fire the towns people had to be moved down to Horseshoe Bay ( the main bathing beach for the town). The fire burnt as far into the town as the Tennis Courts located in Augusta Square. No lives were lost. Another time the pump was taken over to Goolwa to help fight a Riverboat fire. The name of the riverboat was the "Renmark". It caught alight at it's moorings and was destroyed. This was in the fire season of 1959/60. The trailer pump was used for many other fires during it's life time. The pump was designed to pick up water from the water mains as well as from dams, rivers etc. The only problem with taking water from the mains is that the town mains could not keep up the water supply to the pump. Most mains water was pumped through 4' pipes and the pump used 6' hose to pick up water. The trailer pump was the main fire appliance used in the Port Elliot area until 1960. During the 1960's the town siren was relocated to the top of the Institute from the Council Chambers.

In the early 1980's Country Fire Service Headquarters tried to obtain the pump for themselves. As they soon learnt, it was purchased by the Council and not the Fire Service. It is now housed in a private shed until a suitable resting place is found. It is hoped that a town museum or something similar will be created in the future. The trailer pump will always belong to the town of Port Elliot and its people. An Identical Trailer Pump is housed at the Strathalbyn Museum and is on show for all to see. In 1948 the Port Elliot firefighters heard that fire fighting competitions were being held. They believed that they would be good enough to compete; so they approached the District Council to see if they could go. The Council agreed with them and they paid all expenses to allow them to compete.

The Port Elliot team attended their first competition on July 31st 1948. These Competitions were held at Mount Barker.(Crew name unavailable) Up until 1958 there was no official fire service for the town. Several of the local identities had talked about it, so it was decided that a meeting should be called to discuss the issue. The local councilors were approached with this idea. They then took this suggestion to the next council meeting who were also in favor. The Inaugural meeting was held in the Port Elliot Institute supper room on Thursday 27 th February 1958. The council was represented by Mr. R. Bristow-Smith (District Clerk) & local councilors, Mr. George Brittain & Mr. Walter Perry. Others that attended were the District Fire Supervisor Mr. S.E.Skewes, Middleton Fire Service Rep, Mr. B.H.Basham and Goolwa/Currency Creek Fire Service Rep, Mr. R.Galpin. The meeting was chaired by local Mr. George Brittain and was attended by 18 people. It was moved by Mr. Les Brittain & seconded by Mr. George Carnegie Smith that Mr. Alf Dodd be minute secretary for the meeting. Carried. Mr. B.H.Basham spoke about the role that the Middleton Fire Service played within the community. Both the Middleton & Mount Compass Fire Service constitutions were read to the meeting for general information. Mr.S.E. Skewes spoke about the Emergency Fire Service operations throughout the district. He also spoke about the operation of mobile wireless units which helped to control the movement of emergency vehicles during incidents. Mr. Bristow-Smith spoke about how council and the current fire services in the district worked in together.

"Port Elliot Fire Fighting Association"

After hearing various people speak Mr. Carnegie Smith moved a motion that the township of Port Elliot form a fire service. This was seconded by Mr. N.Hann and was carried. The service to be known as Port Elliot Fire Fighting Association. At the request of the council delegates it was decided that all Land owners & Property holders be informed of this decision, and that they attend the next meeting so a committee can be formed. Mr. L.L Brittain spoke at the inaugural meeting also. He indicated that he had met with Mr. Kerr(State chief of the EFS). Mr. Kerr suggested that if purchasing a truck, that a 2 to 3 ton truck would be suitable. He also added that if we purchased a vehicle before 31st March 1958, we would be entitled to a subsidy.

Mr. Galpin from the Currency Creek fire service suggested that a "Blitz" type vehicle would be the most suitable vehicle. It was decided to look at that option later down the track. On the 24 th March 1958 the second meeting was called. 35 people attended with another 6 sending an apology. At this meeting it was moved by Mr. C.Falk that Port Elliot affiliate with the Emergency Fire Services to fall into line with the rest of the district. This was seconded by Mr. I. Ellis and carried. At this meeting a committee was formed. They were as follows; President: Mr. L.L Brittain Vice-Pres: Mr. W.Perry Secretary: Mr. F.Tapscott Treasurer: Mr. A.Dodd Committee: C. Green, E.M Liebelt, A.W Sweetman, C.M Dent, L.E Rosser. Membership Fees were 2/6 (25cents). This fee remanded the same until the early 1990's.

Other Interesting Facts

In 1959 a 4X4 wheel drive Blitz was purchased from the Electricity Trust. The cost was $400. To buy a tank, pump , hoses & acc cost another $600 with an extra $600 to fit it to the truck. Barton Bros. Garage at Pt Elliot & Atrills Garage at Middleton did the bulk of the work with many volunteer hours being put in as well. The Blitz was fitted with a 500 gallon tank. A 1 Omp Rex Pump with a Wisconsen motor. The Blitz was built in 1942. Rego No. 248.555 We housed the unit in a tin shed on the corner of Young St. & Mason Street which the council erected and paid for. In the late 1960's a new two bay fire station was erected at the same location. In 1970 the tin shed was handed over to the State Emergency Service to become there equipment shed. In 1968 a second truck was required. An International C-1300 was purchased by the Council. The Rego No. was RUP.896. This unit was fitted with a 280 gallon tank and a 8hp Wankel pump/motor. The EFS was asked to contribute $1009.00. This was 20% of the total cost. This appliance was used in both the 1980 & 1983 Ash Wednesday Fires. In 1976 an International D-1410 was purchased. Middleton Fire Service donated $1,500 to help with the purchase. Pt Elliot contributed $1,500 & the Council paid the balance. The Rego No. was SLF.354 This appliance was fitted with a 350 gallon tank and a Briggs & Stratton pump.

Once the D-1 410 was made operational it was decided to sell the "Blitz". Mr. J. Roche from the property "Southcote" on Crowsnest Road purchased the vehicle for $200. The Blitz is still housed there today. The C-1300 serviced the local area until 1989 when the first of two Hino 4X4 appliances were purchased. The vehicle had a tank capacity of 2000 Litres.

In 1991 the seconded Hino vehicle was obtained. This has a capacity of 3000 Litres. Both of these Hino units were purchased fully equipped. They have seating for 6 crew. The 3000 L vehicle (Pt Elliot 34) was used in the New South Wales fires in 1994. A crew combining Pt Elliot & Middleton personnel were used at that incident. In 2000 the Pt Elliot CFS and the South Coast State Emergency Service successfully rallied for a new station complex. With a cost exceeding $750,000 a six bay station was built. This is located on Elliot Street, Port Elliot.

Over the last 50 years we have come a long way. We have gone from just fighting bush and grass fires, to dealing with many different types of incidents which include Structure Fires, Vehicle Accidents, Dangerous Substance, Flooding, Search and Rescue and much more.

This information has been sourced from the Brigade website at this address

Brigade Stations

2000 to Present - Lot 826 Elliot Street, Port Elliot
Photographer, CFS Promotions Unit - Jul 2009
Google Map reference - Longitude 138.672396 Latitude -35.529129

Captains

Life Members