‘Horrific’: Historic Townsville pub destroyed by massive fire
A Townsville pub that was built in 1900 has been destroyed by a massive fire.
The Great Northern Hotel, which has been a landmark for 126 years, caught fire early on Friday morning, with the blaze being so intense that it shut down the city for much of the day.
The inferno was so strong it virtually shut the city down for the day. 9News
Fire crews weren’t even able to get inside the building at first, being forced to attack the inferno from outside.
Just as they began to get on top of it, strong winds fanned the flames.
“It was full on,” witness Kevin told 9News.
“It was just so horrific to watch.”
The pub eventually collapsed from the blaze.
The hotel had been part of Townsville’s culture for 126 years, Townsville City Libraries
The heritage-listed hotel had been closed since 2015 after a suspicious fire, but had become a notable spot for squatters.
It was confirmed no one was inside when the blaze broke out on Friday, and the only injury was a minor one to a firefighter.
Firefighters were able to save the neighbouring HeyDays cafe, and no other buildings were impacted by the blaze.
Firefighters will look to determine how the blaze started. 9News
A crime scene has been established as investigators look to piece together how the fire started, while the people of Townsville mourn the loss of an iconic establishment.
“End of an era for a great hotel,” Kevin said.
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