Perth's Old Central Fire Station has a second life as the DFES Education and Heritage Centre. Come for historic fire engines and emergency-services stories, then check the centre's current session before you take a child into the city expecting it to be open.
| Visit detail | Practical answer |
|---|---|
| Place | 25 Murray Street, Perth's East End |
| Entry | DFES lists free Heritage Centre admission |
| Public opening | Selected weekdays and Saturdays; consult the live DFES calendar |
| School and group visits | Separate booking arrangements |
What is in the old station
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services describes it as Perth's first purpose-built fire station. The building served as Central Fire Station until decommissioning in 1979; its Heritage Centre now shows firefighting vehicles, equipment and stories. It is not an operating fire station, so a museum visit should not be confused with a visit to an emergency crew at work.
Check the right opening session
DFES's Heritage Centre information describes free admission and a schedule with selected weekday and Saturday openings; holiday programmes and guided activities may require their own booking. The DFES pages are built dynamically, and their indexed 2026 programme shows specific Saturday dates. Check the operator on the day, particularly around public holidays and school breaks. A separate booked school excursion does not establish casual walk-in hours.
If children want to see a specific vehicle, activity or demonstration, confirm it is actually available for that session. Historic equipment is preserved for interpretation, not necessarily hands-on use on every visit. The centre is a compact city stop, so pairing it with a nearby meal may work better than designing an entire day around unconfirmed displays.
The DFES visitor page gives 25 Murray Street in Perth's East End and says there is no onsite visitor car park. It suggests nearby train stations and the Red CAT bus; check Transperth for the route that works on your date. For mobility, sensory and group questions, ask the DFES team about the exact entrance and current facilities. Use the Perth historic sites hub to compare the cemetery's Sunday opening with other city heritage stops. The accompanying photograph shows the old station's exterior in June 2026, not the day's exhibition programme.
