Catastrophic bushfires building across NSW and QLD destroy heritage-listed building
As out of control bushfires continue to ravage the Australian landscape in NSW and Queensland, one Heritage-listed building has fallen victim to the upcoming fire season.
The heritage-listed Binna Burra Lodge, which was built in 1933 in Lamington National Park in the Gold Coast has been “fully destroyed”.
“This fire has continued to show a mind of its own and early this morning it crept into the Binna Burra resort and there has been significant structural loss,” Scenic Rim mayor Greg Christensen told the Brisbane Times.
Binna Burra Lodge chairman Steven Noakes fought back tears as he described the damage, the ABC reports.
“It’s a dark day in the 86-year history of Binna Burra. Fires have destroyed much of the heritage building facilities and some of our more contemporary buildings also,” he said.
This was just one of the victims of the 51 bushfires that are tearing apart Queensland in what some are saying is the worst start to the fire season on record.
More than 100 fires are also burning in rural New South Wales, with residents revealing that their homes were destroyed in a matter of minutes.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Assistant Commissioner Kevin Walsh told news.com.au that the blazes were the worst he’s ever seen.
“Firefighters stood side by side battling wind gusts of up to 90km/h,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything as bad as that.”
Things aren’t looking good in NSW either, with the Rural Fire Service being concerned about two major fires in the state.
Deputy Commissioner Rog Rogers said that the blaze near Bees Nest in Armidale and one on Long Gully Road, Drake near Tenterfield are of “major concern”.
“The Armidale area is a huge area, it is more than 100km wide and is still burning actively, so it’s a major concern for us,” Rob said to news.com.au.
“We’re holding out for some spring rain, but it’s not looking good at all,” he said.