The Wangaratta Historical Society Museum in Ford Street was originally a fire station constructed in 1895 which included living quarters for its staff.

The new station was officially opened on Janury 24, 1896 and reportedly cost 300 pounds, most of which has been raised through brigade competitions which had doubled as training exercises.  The opening celebrations had included a sit down banquet for 100 guests served in the upper room.

Long decommissioned as a fire station, the building is now owned by the Rural City of Wangaratta and with their support the Historical Society moved into the premises in the 1970s. 

The double-storey brick building currently houses office and research rooms on the ground floor with a larger storage, archival and work area upstairs.  One half of the ground floor space is dedicated to the Museum display area. It is a beautiful historic building which the Society appreciates the use of.