Member of the Crookwell & District Historical Society Monica Croke is looking for more information on Crookwell’s No 38 Garford Hale Fire Appliance which arrived in September 19, 1939. 

According to Ms Croke, the vehicle was delivered to Crookwell after it was used in other areas. 

Next year will mark 80 years the first Garford Hale fire appliance arrived in Australia.

Interest in the vehicle was sparked in 2001 when attendees of the Crookwell Potato Festival told the historical society they had seen a similar fire engine in Cessnock, NSW. 

“I believe there would be few men in the Shire who worked on it that may be still alive or their families may still have photographs or scrap books or stories told to them,” she said.

“Certainly there would be residents who could remember this old fire engine going to various fires in the area.”

She is working with the National Museum of Transport and Museum of Fire to trace the history of the vehicle.

A possibility is that it was purchased and displayed in a private museum after it was sold in 1969.

 Ms Croke is also interested in comparing emergency response vehicles before and after 1939 with a focus on local fire brigade members.

She is looking for information on the old engine, brigade members or any photographs that may be relevant.