Vintage fire trucks are being moved out of the Ashburton Fire Museum in preparation for a $200,000 extension.
The extension needs to be completed in time for the Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade’s 150th anniversary in November.
It follows a major rebuild of the museum, which houses the brigade’s heritage collection, in 2019.
The brigade has been fortunate to have many of its antique, vintage and classic appliances, alongside uniforms, equipment, photos and other memorabilia, displayed at the museum.
Located at Plains Vintage Railway and opened in 1978, the museum is operated by Grey Watch, a dedicated group of volunteers including firefighters, former firefighters and enthusiasts.
‘‘It seems that as soon as we have new space we get memorabilia to fill it,’’ Grey Watch member Bill Hart said.
On Saturday, Grey Watch members and driver Dennis Dixon were loaned a Wilson Bulk Transport truck, enabling seven of the museum’s 13 pumps and appliances to be relocated to off-site storage.
Model engines and other memorabilia was also relocated.
The 18m by 10m extension will allow room for four more appliances currently stored off site.
They include a 1878, 16-man hand pump from the former Western Brigade, which until the late 1880s was located on the triangle of land near Holy Name Church, and a 1920 Dodge from the former Allenton Brigade, located where St David’s Church sits until the late 1930s.
The work on the extensions is being undertaken by builders, but the volunteers will be helping.
‘‘The museum has to find the funding for the extensions, so any donations are welcome,’’ Bill said.
