At a glance
- Who it’s for
- Families, school groups and anyone planning a visit to the Museum of Fire at Penrith, including visitors who prefer a quieter, sensory-friendly morning
- What to do now
- Buy tickets at the museum shop on the day; for the vintage fire engine rides, check the dates on the museum’s site and call (02) 4731 3000 first, because rides depend on volunteer drivers
- Opening hours
- 9:30am to 4:30pm, 7 days a week; closed Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day; open from 1pm on ANZAC Day
- Admission
- Adult $17; child (2 to 17) $8.50; family $40; concession $12.50; under 2 free (prices as of 1 August 2023, the latest on the museum’s page)
- Last checked
- Tuesday 10 November 2026, against the Museum of Fire website
- Not yet confirmed
- Whether the 2023 admission prices are still current, as the museum says prices are subject to change, and parking, which the museum’s page does not describe
The Museum of Fire at Penrith is open from 9:30am to 4:30pm every day except Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and its side gate is about a 5-minute, 500 metre walk from Penrith station. This guide covers admission prices, the first-Monday Quiet Morning, the vintage fire engine rides, how to get there and the rules, based on the museum’s own website, checked on 10 November.
How much does it cost to get in?
Tickets are bought on the day from the museum shop. The prices below are those the museum’s admission page lists, and the page dates them as of 1 August 2023. It says prices are subject to change, that different prices may apply on special event days, and that surcharges apply to all card transactions.
| Ticket | Price | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | $17.00 | Ages 18 and over |
| Child | $8.50 | Ages 2 to 17 |
| Family | $40 | 2 adults and up to 2 children, or 1 adult and up to 3 children |
| Additional children | $5 each | On top of a family ticket |
| Concession | $12.50 | Pensioner Concession Card, Seniors Card and Disability Card only |
| Carer or Companion Card holder | $12.50 | One carer per client with a Disability Card; extra carers pay normal admission |
| Under 2 | Free | |
| Groups of 15 or more | $12 per person | Includes a guided tour by a heritage team member; below 15 people, normal prices apply and no guide is provided |
A school-holiday guided tour needs a deposit to secure the booking, with the price on request. The museum describes itself as a not-for-profit registered charity and the official heritage partner of Fire and Rescue NSW.
What is the Quiet Morning?
On the first Monday of every month, from 9:30am to 10:30am, the museum turns off all flashing lights and loud noises for visitors who prefer a quieter, sensory-friendly experience. No booking is required, and for that hour everyone pays child admission of $8.50. The next Quiet Mornings listed are Monday 7 December 2026, Monday 4 January 2027, Monday 1 February 2027 and Monday 1 March 2027.
When do the fire engine rides run?
The museum’s home page says fire engine rides run every Tuesday and Friday at $4.50 each, from 10am to 11am and from 1pm to 2pm, subject to volunteer availability, and that rides are not guaranteed when you visit. It lists the next ride day as Saturday 28 November 2026, from 10am to 2pm, with sessions of 45 minutes from 10am. The museum’s event page says:
- The truck is an authentic vintage 1969 Ford D200 fire engine
- Each ride lasts approximately 3 to 5 minutes around the museum grounds
- No bookings are required: buy a ticket from the museum shop on the day and join the queue for the next session
- The cost is $4.50 per person, and museum entry is not included
- It recommends arriving 5 to 10 minutes before your preferred session
The museum’s event page lists Sunday 24 January and Saturday 30 January 2027 among 16 ride dates. The council’s Visit Penrith calendar also lists Saturday 14 November and Sunday 22 November, dates that the museum’s home page does not show as its next rides, so the two sources do not fully agree. Because rides depend on volunteer drivers, call (02) 4731 3000 before your visit. The council listing also says children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult and cannot sit in the front seat.
How do I get to the Museum of Fire?
| How | What the museum says |
|---|---|
| Train | Penrith station is directly behind the museum, a 500 metre walk (about 5 minutes) from the platform; follow signs to Penrith North and walk towards the multi-storey station car park; the pedestrian gate is on Combewood Avenue |
| Bus | The closest bus station is on Jane Street, next to Penrith station and Westfield, an 800 metre walk (about 8 minutes) to the side entry gate on Combewood Avenue |
| Car | From the M4 Motorway take the Mulgoa Road exit towards Penrith; the entrance is 1km north of the Panthers Entertainment Centre on the right-hand side after the railway underpass bridge, marked by a 1940s Dennis fire engine raised 4 metres off the ground |
| Walk or cycle | Shared paths lead to the main entry gates on Castlereagh Road, and to the Combewood Avenue side gate near the Penrith Commuter Car Park |
The museum does not describe its own visitor parking on its home page. For car parks near the station, see our Penrith city centre parking guide.
What is inside, and what is the building’s history?
The museum describes itself as home to Australia’s largest collection of Fire Brigade vehicles, with a vast display of objects, equipment, memorabilia and educational displays, and says many items are on the State Heritage Register. It also lists fire safety displays and kids’ interactive areas. Its about page says the museum moved four times before settling in 1985 in the vacant Penrith power station, which took about 12 months to clean and convert, and that it was officially opened to the public on 16 November 1986.
Who runs the museum, and does it take school groups?
The museum’s about page traces its history to the Historic Fire Engine Association of Australia, whose first meeting was held in March 1969. The first museum was built on a vacant site at the newly constructed FRNSW Training College in Alexandria, was completed in 1979 and was then called the Fire Services Museum. In the early 1980s it relocated twice, to properties at Walsh Bay and Campbells Cove, before the move to Penrith in 1985. The museum says its purpose is to provide a facility for the study and enjoyment of the history, use and control of fire, and to preserve firefighting and fire service history in Australia. Its home page also lists education programs for primary schools, vacation care and homeschool groups, group tours, and volunteer positions for people who want to help.
What are the rules on site?
Drones cannot be flown on the museum grounds without prior approval, and the museum points to its Public Use of Drones document for how to apply. Please observe the museum’s Conditions of Entry on arrival, which it asks visitors to follow for the safety of all patrons and staff. The museum is a non-smoking facility, which includes vaping. You can reach the museum on (02) 4731 3000, and its address is 1 Museum Drive, Penrith.
Sources
- Museum of Fire — home page (hours, rides, getting here; checked 10 November 2026)
- Museum of Fire — Admission fees (prices as of 1 August 2023)
- Museum of Fire — Fire engine rides, 28 November
- Museum of Fire — Quiet Morning, 7 December
- Museum of Fire — Group visits and tours
- Museum of Fire — About the museum
- Visit Penrith — Fire Engine Rides (rides for children under 7)
Featured image: A 1931 Dennis 250/400 fire engine at the Museum of Fire (photo: sv1ambo / CC BY 2.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the Museum of Fire or Fire and Rescue NSW. Opening hours, prices and ride dates can change; check the museum’s website before you go.