Please be advised: this website contains the names, images and voices of people who are now deceased.

Collections WA has a responsibility to preserve and make accessible the history and culture of Western Australia in all its various forms. The intention of Collections WA is to support research, and to reveal actions of the past that have impacted upon communities, families, and individuals.

In doing so, Collections WA acknowledges the need to respond sensitively and appropriately in cases when accessing this material may be confronting to Aboriginal visitors and clients.

Please also note: Some historical materials within this portal may include language or opinions that today are considered inappropriate or even offensive. Collections WA does not endorse this language and apologises for any distress caused.

Continue

Continue showing cultural advice

Stop showing cultural advice

Collections WA brings together collections from libraries, galleries, museums, archives, historical societies, cultural organisations, community groups and other collecting organisations across Western Australia.

Busselton Historical Society > Records

Tool - Firefighter's Pickhead Axe

« Prev Item Next Item »

Unknown

Overview

Metal blade on a straight wooden handle. This axe features a sharp cutting blade on the front and a long, pointed metal pick on the back, attached to a wooden handle.

Historical information

A specialized rescue and entry tool featuring a standard chopping edge on the front and a pick or flat hammer poll on the back. Designed for heavy-duty, close-quarter work, these tools are built to smash doors, tear through roofs, and pry open hydrants.

Details

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-124-2020.398

Item type

Objects

Tools

Themes

Material

Metal

Wood

Inscriptions and markings

None

Contextual information

"Fireman's axe" and "firefighter's axe" are just different names for the exact same tool. They are primarily used for gaining forcible entry (smashing doors and windows), ventilating roofs (chopping through structures), and overhauling (clearing debris and searching for hot spots).

Keywords

Equipment

Hand Tool

Fire Brigade

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Social or spiritual significance

Last modified

Tuesday, 16 June, 2026

Completeness

55

Busselton Historical Society

Busselton Historical Society

Other items from Busselton Historical Society

Axe

Media reuse | View full size | Item feedback

Scan this QR code to open this page on your phone ->

Full size unavailable (you're already seeing this image in its highest resolution available on Collections WA)

Loading...