Nyngan’s old Fire Station was lit up last Saturday, not by fire but with excitement as locals and visitors gathered for the official opening of the station as a museum and community facility and to reveal the newly restored Garford Fire truck.

The Cobar Street building was home to Nyngan’s local brigade from 1935 until five years ago when the brigade moved to new premises in the John Hoare Industrial Estate.

After being awarded funding to complete renovations on the building and to complete a restoration of a Garford Fire truck, Council set off to complete the works and re-open the station.

The1924 Garford fire engine was proudly on display after being restored by the members of the Tamworth Antique Fire Engine Club for the Nyngan Brigade.

Local man Keith White was instrumental in this restoration but sadly passed away before he saw the finished products.

Bogan Shire Mayor Glen Neill with Jane White who opened the new Fire Museum in Nyngan last Saturday - Image Bogan Shire Council.

Mr White’s daughter Jane officially opened the Museum and said her father would have been thrilled to see all his restoration hopes and dreams come to fruition.

“I certainly felt honoured and proud to have been asked by Mayor Glenn Neill to officiate the opening of the Nyngan Fire Museum and Garford engine which my father Keith White was so passionate about.

“He approached Mr Jim Marr of “lllabunda” to donate the Garford and started to restore the engine and find equipment, numerous items and photos for both the fire engine and Fire Station.

“He would have been so happy to have been a part of the day,” she said.

The Engine was regifted back to the Nyngan brigade by local district grazier Jim Marr in the 1980’s and from that point on Mr White initiated the restoration.

Former Nyngan Fire Brigade members were in attendance at the opening, including local ex firie Col Pardy who spoke about the changes that have occurred over the years at the station.

Fire Captain Rob Avard, Mayor Glen Neill and Tamworth Antique Fire Engine Club members who assisted in the restoration of the 1924 engine - Image Bogan Shire Council.

“It was a great day for the community,” according to Nyngan Brigade Captain Rob Avard.

“It was a terrific day for the opening.

There was a big crowd in attendance including a few old fire fighters and rescue crew.

The Tamworth Fire Engine restoration group came along in a bus and made a weekend of it to see the restored Garford at her new home.

Daughter of Keith White, Jane trying out the Engine for size - Image Bogan Shire Council.

“We are still working on the finer points of how the museum will run and have meetings scheduled with council, but we are sure it will be an asset to the community once we get everything organised,” said Mr Avard.

“Council had been approached by Keith White to assist with the restoration of the Garford engine, and we were successful in a grant to restore it and do some much-needed renovations to the old fire station building,” said Derek Francis General Manager Bogan Shire Council.

“We wouldn't have been able to do the Garford restoration without the dedicated members of the Tamworth Classic Fire Engine Club - and really appreciate the hard work and dedication to getting her running and looking like new,” said Mr Francis.

Hiram and William Marr who grew up with the engine on their property before it was donated to Nyngan Historical Society by father Jim Marr - Image Bogan Shire Council.

Members of the Marr family were also in attendance and were pleased to see the renovated engine in all her newfound glory.

“In the years after the engine was blistered in the Barringer’s fire of 1962 my dad Jim Marr won the tender to buy it.

“He paid 210 pound knowing others would go up to 200. Many years of holiday fun and utilising the pump followed.

“When he left Illabunda in 2014 Jim arranged with the late Keith White for it to be given to Nyngan Historic Society.

“Due to the cost the Bogan Shire assisted in the total restoration with the Tamworth team doing the hard yards to restore the engine,” said Mr Marr.

“It was a great result all round,” he said.