It was originally intended to be a way to help quench the thirst of firefighters after an exhausting shift fighting the summer's horror bushfires.
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But Bungendore's 'Firies' Fridge' ended up becoming representing more than that during the long fire season.
"It gave the public a way to make them feel like they were doing something to help the firies. It was a way for the public to thank them," fridge owner Claire Hooper said
Now the humble fridge, adorned with messages of support to firefighters, will represent something even greater again, being put on display at the National Museum of Australia.
The fridge is the first of a planned collection of items to symbolise Australia's latest bushfire crisis, and was given a hero's welcome.
It was transported in a convoy of fire trucks and emergency vehicles from Bungendore through to Canberra with hundreds lining the route and welcoming it at the museum.
For Bungendore residents Claire and Scott Hooper, who came up with the idea to leave the fridge out for firies, they said they did not expect the idea to spread so far across the community.
"We just thought we were helping out and doing what we could to help the emergency services, and then it just snowballed," Ms Hooper said.
"I thought it was a good idea to leave an esky out with drinks, but realised we couldn't keep the ice going," Mr Hooper said.
"We realised we had a spare fridge and we cleared it up and put it out. It was fantastic, more people were filling it up than firies were taking from it."
Jerrabomberra firefighters Ian McHenry and John-Paul Romano were just some of the crews who would stock up on drinks from the fridge before or after a long shift on the firefront.
They were just some of the firefighters escorting the fridge to its new home on Friday, and said it helped to lift spirits during an arduous summer.
"It's funny how much food and drink can help in boosting morale, and it's not just the fridge, but the support of the community the whole season," Mr Romano said.
"The fridge represents the country and what the community is willing to do to help out," Mr McHenry said.
"I hope to show my grandkids the fridge in the museum, and say I was a part of this."
The arrival of the fridge coincided with the launch of the museum's 'Fridge Door Fire Stories', a Facebook group allowing people to share their experiences of the fire season, which will help to shape future displays on the fires.
Museum director Dr Mathew Trinca said it would form part of a collective history of the recent season.
"People can tell their stories in their own words," Dr Trinca said. "Sometimes ordinary things like a fridge can tell extraordinary stories, and this will be the start of a collection of things."
ACT Emergency Services Agency commissioner Georgeina Whelan was there at the museum to welcome the convoy of trucks, and said the community support was overwhelming.
"To have something like the fridge in the museum, it represents the outreach and the support and a way to say thanks and it means a lot to our volunteers," she said.
"This will go down in history in the museum, and it's one of the best things to happen in volunteering for a long time."