These items are significant as commemorations of the opening of two of the most important fire stations in New South Wales, and link to the history of the Mastertouch Piano Roll Company who were based in the Stanmore fire station from 2000-2005.

The Stanmore fire station, opened in 1886, was the first suburban and district fire station to be permanently manned; subsequent extensions to the building and its staffing made the station the second largest in New South Wales (after Headquarters in Castlereagh St). The celebrations in 1986 marked 100 years of continual occupation and permanent manning of the station, a feat unrivalled in Australia at that time.

The Headquarters station was the first of the three original City brigades, and grew out of the Insurance Companies' Brigade and its successor the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, originally housed in Bathurst St. In 1887 the brigade moved to the newly-constructed Headquarters station in Castlereagh St, the façade of which still remains today as part of the modern, expanded City of Sydney Fire Station.

These items commemorate the opening and continual operation of two of the most important fire stations in New South Wales, and as such are a significant numismatic representation of part of the history of Sydney.

The Stanmore key fob was commissioned in 1986 by the NSW Fire Brigades to commemorate the centenary of Stanmore Fire Station, originally opened on May 29, 1886.

The Headquarters medallion was commissioned in 1987 by the NSW Fire Brigades to commemorate the centenary of Headquarters Fire Station, Castlereagh St, which opened in November 1887.

These items were donated in 2007 by Inspector Ross Brogan (AFSM, CFI) of the NSW Fire Brigades, who in 1986 was the Station Officer of Stanmore Fire Station and was in charge of the centenary celebrations for the Stanmore and Headquarters fire stations.

The Stanmore Fire Brigade building was closed in 1991 and sold in 2000 to the Mastertouch Piano Roll Compnay who remained there until 2005. The Mastertouch Piano Roll Company had been established in 1919 in Sydney and manufactured and sold piano rolls until its closure on 1 July 2005. It is highly significant both to the state of New South Wales and Australia as a whole as the longest running and only piano roll manufacturer to be operating in the country. It was also only one of two remaining large scale piano roll manufacturers in the world, the other being QRS in the USA.

Commemorative medallion, centenary of Headquarters Fire Station, Castlereagh St (1887-1987), and key fob, centenary of Stanmore Fire Station No 7, 1886-1986, issued by New South Wales Fire Brigades, Australia, 1986-1987

Circular gold plated medallion. Obverse (main side): fireman carrying a limp female figure, legend "HEAD QUARTERS CENTENARY / NEW SOUTH WALES / FIRE BRIGADES / A / CENTURY / OF / SERVICE / 1887 / 1987". Reverse: depiction of a steam-powered fire engine marked "METROPOLITAN / FIRE BRIGADE", over legend "HQ"; production number unknown, of 250 minted; diameter 50mm; mint unknown; reference number 1987/24 in Carlisle (2008)

Circular enamelled key fob. Obverse (main side): depiction of Stanmore Fire Station No 7 in gold, on blue background; legend "STANMORE / BRIGADES / CENTENARY / 1886-1986 / No 7 / NEW SOUTH WALES FIRE BRIGADES". Reverse: inscription "7/007"; diameter approx. 35mm; manufacturer not known.

Made: 1986 - 1987

2011/91/1

1986 - 1987