Historic hotel destroyed in fire

CFA District 20 commander Darren Crawford said the building was completely alight when the first firefighters arrived on the scene only minutes after the call.

About 30 to 40 firefighters fought the blaze, with it taking about two hours to get it under control, as it was difficult for firefighters to get close, Mr Crawford said.

The fire was extinguished by 4am.

Mr Crawford said the blaze lit up the night sky, and the brigade was called by a nearby resident who noticed the flames.

No-one was in the hotel at the time of the fire.

In the daylight on Tuesday, the only things left standing of the weatherboard pub were the chimney and a partial section of the rear of the hotel.

Fire investigators were on scene early Tuesday morning to try to find the cause of the blaze.

Mr Crawford said the hotel had been an “icon of the community”.

“It’s a huge loss to the community,” he said.

“It’s very sad.”