Maryborough fire station upgrade to be made of timber, maintain old features

Demolition of this 70-year-old Queensland building begins today with the replacement being “the first timber fire station ever.” And no, the irony isn’t lost on leaders.

Maryborough MP Bruce Saunders knows there’s irony in a fire station being built out of wood but in a city famous for its timber, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Demolition work began at the Maryborough Fire Station on Tuesday, making way for the state’s “first ever” timber station.

The materials used to build the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) North Coast Region Headquarters at 98 Lennox Street have been sourced locally from Maryborough’s Hyne Timber.

Picture: Isabella Magee

Mr Saunders said the idea originally raised eyebrows but had since been embraced.

“It’s the first timber fire station ever in Australia, the timber is going to be grown and processed here in Maryborough,” Mr Saunders said.

“It was weird when we started talking about it … some people thought ‘oh timber, it could burn down’ but this is a Heritage city, we’re known as the train and timber city … this emphasises the fact we are a timber city.”

The first sod being turned at the new station on July 20, 2021. Picture: Isabella Magee

The red “brick building” which has been a Maryborough landmark for 70 years will be retained, as the rest of the former station is demolished.

The $12.1 million upgrade will take about a year to complete.

Picture: Isabella Magee

QFES Commissioner Greg Leach said the new station “allows for future growth”, as it will include space for firefighting appliances and practical training facilities.

“The new facility will be home to the North Coast Region Headquarters, the area offices for the Rural Fire Service (RFS) and State Emergency Service (SES), the command office for the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) and for Maryborough FRS firefighters,” Mr Leach said.

“It will house specialist technical equipment so the region‘s operational crews can respond to a wide range of emergency incidents including fires, swift-water rescues and hazardous materials incidents.

”The extended and refurbished building will also include a purpose-built Regional Operations Centre to allow the region to plan for, co-ordinate and respond to emergencies and disasters locally and regionally.”