CFA Training College
A former training facility for Australia’s Country Fire Authority, closed in 2015 due to environmental contamination linked to occupational health concerns.
At a glance
The CFA Training College in Fiskville served as the primary training center for members of the Country Fire Authority, a large volunteer-based fire and emergency service responsible for regional Victoria. Located approximately 10 kilometres south of Ballan, the site occupied land formerly used for beam wireless shortwave transmission equipment. The college’s permanent closure in March 2015 marked the end of decades of firefighter training operations.
History
The facility was established on land associated with Ernest Fisk of AWA, giving the locality its name, Fiskville. For many years it functioned as the primary training center for CFA personnel. A 2011 finding identified the site as being associated with a cancer cluster among staff members. Water contamination was subsequently detected on the site, traced to the CFA’s deliberate use of carcinogenic chemicals as a cost-cutting measure. The contamination extended beyond the training facility to surrounding properties, prompting regulatory action.
What you see
Limited architectural or design information is available about the college’s structures themselves.
Cultural significance
The college’s history and closure raise important questions about workplace safety, institutional accountability, and environmental stewardship in emergency services. The site represents a significant chapter in Victoria’s firefighting heritage, though one complicated by health and environmental failures that affected both staff and the broader community.
Key facts
- Location: Shire of Moorabool, Victoria, Australia
- Coordinates: -37.68216667, 144.22672222
- Closure: March 2015
- Reason for closure: Environmental contamination and health concerns
- Distance from Ballan: Approximately 10 kilometres south
Practical information & getting there
The facility is no longer operational and not open to visitors. The site remains significant to discussions of occupational safety and environmental remediation in Victoria.
Sources & resources
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