POLICE investigations into Monday night’s devastating fire at Robinvale Hotel are ongoing with arson detectives from Melbourne attending the Perrin Street site this week.
Firefighters from Robinvale, Euston, Boundary Bend, Manangatang, Wemen, Irymple and Mildura battled the blaze at the historic watering hole for about nine hours after it broke out about midnight on Monday.
Robinvale police initially worked with Country Fire Authority investigators at the scene but soon called on assistance from the Victoria Police arson and explosives squad, who took over the investigation on Tuesday.
It has not yet been determined whether the fire at the 87-year-old pub was deliberately lit or accidental.
Swan Hill CFA fire investigator John Breaks, who was in Robinvale on Wednesday to debrief the arson detectives, said the top storey of the hotel was extensively damaged but fire crews were able to largely prevent the fire spreading to the ground storey.
Irene Thalasinos, who runs nearby Central Takeaway and lives above her shop, said she noticed sparks and flames coming from the building shortly after the fire station siren sounded across the township on Monday night.
She said the timing of the fire was devastating for trade, with tourists set to converge on the town in coming weeks.
“In summer you’ve got campers and skiers who go there, and over Easter,” she said.
“It’s sort of in the centre of town, it’s walking distance.
“Really devastating.”
Barry Plant real estate agent Chris Katis said the current owners, who police said had assisted with inquiries into the fire, purchased the business in June last year and had listed it for sale in January.
Mr Katis said the building had been owned by a private trust, run by businessmen in Adelaide, since 1997 and was leased to the current owners privately.
Mr Katis said he was not sure of the details, but expected there to be a clause which would terminate the lease if the building was unusable for a certain period of time.
The business is listed for $240,000 plus stock, and includes a lease of at least five years and up to 25 years.
It incorporates a TAB, bar, drive through bottle shop, 18-room accommodation, 60-seat restaurant and three-bedroom manager’s residence.
For more on this story, pick up a copy of Friday’s Guardian (December 18).
