When the photo was taken is not known, but the fire station building was outlined in lights, a practice that happened on quite a few occasions for the festive season.

The Fire Brigade Board from Sydney wanted to remove the fire station to Piper Street as the site was considered too small for the draught horses. 

As some Bathurst Council aldermen stated, the horses would go when a motor fire engine arrived. Thus Bathurst was promised early delivery of one. 

It is known that a set of lights operated by a generator was installed in December 1916, I assume for Christmas, according to a letter written by Herbert Young, himself a volunteer fireman at the time. 

When the bell at the fire station rang out, Herbert would jump on his pushbike and pedal like the dickens to the station.

In March 1915, it was reported that a letter was read to Bathurst Council aldermen from Mr R. Shepherd, country representative on the Board of Fire Commissioners. 

“Ald. Rigby expressed his firm conviction that the station was now in the right and proper place in the centre of the city where the valuable properties and business premises were situated. The Piper Street site was about four or five blocks away from the centre of things,” it was reported. 

As it turned out, the fire station was not relocated for several decades as they received a fire engine and the draught horses were sent to Sydney.

For many years, there were Christmas festivities in Machattie Park beside the fire station. The Bathurst District Band, under bandmaster Sam Lewins, would play Christmas carols and draw large crowds to hear the joyful music. The band rotunda would be decorated in colourful streamers, Christmas decorations and lights. 

In 1907, the Bathurst District Band played festive musical interludes around Bathurst’s streets before arriving at Machattie Park for the evening’s concert.

One year, Mr A.B. James, cordial manufacturer in Morisset Street, supplied more than 400 flavoured cordials and ginger beer to each of the children. 

Mr Webb paid other expenses, as well as the firemen from the fire station, who took up a collection that was to go to the Bathurst Orphanage to purchase Christmas gifts for the local orphans.   

In September 1937, workmen were engaged in applying a coat of paint to the Bathurst Fire Station. 

The work was to take some time and it was thought the premises would be considerably improved by the spring renovations which would be ready for the Christmas festival.

While electricity was not put in around Bathurst for a century after blocks of land were being sold in the township in 1833, it was finally installed by Bathurst City Council’s electrical engineer Mr Bell and his assistants. 

The fire station was one of the first buildings supplied with electricity. Eglinton residents were still waiting to be connected to electricity in June 1947.

Bathurst Council agreed at its June meeting in 1947 to make a grant of £56 towards financing the next Christmas and New Year festival in Bathurst. 

The council intended to ask the festival committee to furnish a report of its program and general proposals. 

I would like to wish all readers of this weekly history column my best wishes for the festive season and the upcoming new year. 

May you enjoy the spirit of Christmas with your family and loved ones, as well as your good friends.

- Alan McRae is with the Bathurst District Historical Society