At 1 am on October 19, 1949, an early morning wake-up call shook the residents of Proserpine as a disastrous fire swept through the wood and iron buildings in Main Street. Residents were awakened by the glare or falling glass. Most business people living away from Main Street were wakened by the Post Office exchange ringing their homes, or the railway engine incessantly blowing a warning signal.
The fire started in Exelby's building (Filby’s side of the street). Mr Exelby was sleeping on the premises, upper level, and fled in his night attire after waking his co-worker, Mr Cole, who slept on the veranda. He stated that at the end of the evening, there was fire burning in his stove at the rear of the cafe. Being in the habit of allowing the fire to burn out, he was awakened by the heat and smoke.
The fire soon became a raging inferno covering a 40-yard (36.5m) frontage to Main Street as the south easterly wind intensified with the advance of rain. It burnt through three other businesses - Briggs & Mazlin’s (auctioneers and commission agent), Gillespies’ Mercery Department (owned by Mr F. Wilson) and Foxlee’s Butchery. (This area extends from the site of the current café next to the Metropole Hotel to the newsagency in Main Street)
At the time, there was no official fire brigade and no reticulated water but the fire was eventually controlled by 3 am thanks to a bucket brigade. Almost 100 people, some in their pyjamas, fought the fire for two hours - buckets, copper boilers, basins, a baby’s bath and tubs were used; anything that would hold water. Rain water tanks were smashed open with axes to increase the flow of water. Hoses were coupled to wind-mill water tanks to supplement the rain water supply.
Fanned by the breeze, the flames reached out across Main Street to Faust Bros’ Hardware and John Maltby and Co. businesses. Plate glass windows were cracked and paint blistered and peeled. Newly built businesses with brick walls on either side of the burnt-out buildings prevented more damage. These were the Co-operative Society store to the east and Mr A J Dobbins’ premises occupied by Mr P Casey (barber) and Mr. Viv Ball (billiard saloon proprietor) to the west.
Daylight showed burnt twisted sheets of iron and charred wood. The council cleared debris from the street and extinguished smouldering debris. Electricity was restored by 7.30am and work commenced to replace the awning in front of the Co-op which was torn off to prevent the spread of fire. Damage was estimated to be between £20,000 and £30,000. Fortunately, all businesses were insured.
It was almost twelve months before, in September 1950, the Council advertised for a part time Fire Chief and land for a Fire Station and residence was purchased in Main Street. But there was still no reticulated water in town so an 800-gallon tank mounted on a truck was purchased and supplemented by tanks belonging to local businesses and the Sugar Mill. Twelve auxiliary firemen were recruited, paid for attendance at fires and had uniforms supplied. An alarm siren was installed on a 30-foot pole at the CFO’s house.
It would be another three years (1953) before approval was given to build the station and another four years (1957) before Proserpine had reticulated water with the completion of the water tower. This fire station was closed down in 2018 with a new Disaster and Emergency Centre being built in Hinschen Street.
Story and photo courtesy Proserpine Historical Museum
