An early morning blaze has gutted the Waltzing Matilda Centre at Winton in western Queensland.

Firefighters were called to the famous museum and tourist spot about 2:00am.

Two crews from Winton and one from Longreach, almost 200 kilometres away, attended the scene.

The building was well alight when they arrived, with the gallery, kitchen and reception engulfed.

Inspector Bob Stooke from the Fire and Emergency Service said most of the building had been destroyed by fire, smoke or heat damage, although some artefacts and adjoining buildings were saved.

"It was just contained to the Matilda Centre," he said.

"The roofs in some of the area have completely collapsed.

"I think it is devastating to the whole community of Winton, with the history of part of Australia."

Sorry, this video has expired Fire rips through Waltzing Matilda Centre in Winton ( John Elliott )

The centre was built in 1998 after the centenary celebrations for the AB "Banjo" Paterson's 1895 song and houses memorabilia and interactive displays.

Other Australian memorabilia is also held at the museum.

Winton Mayor Butch Lenton said the firefighters fought to save what they could, including a World War I exhibition.

"With the Banjo Room with the war stuff in it, if that there has gone, well, that history will be gone that's for sure," he said.

"Unfortunately it is a bit of a kick in the guts but we will tough it out and keep going with it.

"There have been no injuries and we are grateful for that, but unfortunately you lose a lot of history which you can't regather."

The fire has been extinguished, but its cause is not yet known.

Winton Shire Council's John Elliott said the community is devastated, it was an added blow that the fire happened a week out from the town's second outback film festival.

The cause of the fire at the centre is not yet known. ( Supplied: John Elliott )

He said the centre was unlikely to reopen this year.

"The Waltzing Matilda Centre is a massive area and it would appear that it is all gone," he said.

"It looked as if it was under control and then in the actual museum part it flared up again ... there is massive damage, I don't think there will be too much rescued from it.

"A lot of the staff are down there at the moment and they are totally gutted.

"A lot of people feeling pretty cut up about it here in Winton this morning."