He said that according  to the Museum of Fire and various historical societies he contacted, including Hawkesbury and Kurrajong-Comleroy, it was originally commissioned at Eastwood in May, 1924, then went to Narrabri, Windsor, Coonamble and then was finally decommissioned in June, 1960 at Canowindra.

“According to newspaper articles from the time it would appear that the original Garford fire engine stationed at Windsor overturned after a collision with a calf in 1936 and was eventually replaced with another engine in 1938,” he said. 

“I believe this to be the engine I have. It stayed at Windsor until March 1948. It had a blown-up engine and was missing its wheels and other various parts.”

Fire officials have said they would like to have the new station operational by mid-December.

The new station will be built on land next door to the old fire station. After that, the second phase of the project is to tear down the old station, and do the requisite landscaping there.

When the department defaulted on payments a pumper truck, valued at more the $200,000 was repossessed as well as the rescue truck.

The leasing company sued the rural fire department. But, in a counter suit Attorney Derick Allison claimed the fire firefighters were misled and did not understand the agreement that was signed.