Gatton's Imperial Hotel destroyed by fire; deemed a 'threat to life' in July

Updated

The historic Imperial Hotel in Gatton has been gutted by a fierce fire just four months after it was deemed a threat to life.

The double-storey pub, in the Lockyer Valley west of Brisbane, was up in flames and partially collapsed when firefighters arrived just before 1:00am.

Thirty-five fire fighters could not save the hotel, which was built in 1878.

Every available firefighter in the township of about 7,000 responded to the emergency.

I don't know what happened, I very sad, I don't believe it. I'm very sorry to all Gatton people lost a very, very antique building. John, Gatton resident

Inspector Daryl Rush said the blaze was so intense a number of firefighters had to be treated for heat exhaustion.

The heat of the blaze also melted insignia on a fire truck 25 metres away.

"An example of some of the heat that was being radiated at this incidence - one of the appliances that was parked approximately 25 metres [away] had one of the decals on the side of the door start to crinkle and melt off the fire door," he said.

"The premise is completely collapsed - basically what we can see at the moment is concrete stumps and section of roofing."

At this stage it is unknown what started the fire. No-one was inside the building at the time.

Residents recall fond times at town pub

Gatton's townspeople have recalled fond memories of nights out with friends and family at the 137-year-old pub.

John, who was originally from Turkey, came to Gatton for the first time in 1980.

He recalled staying at the Imperial Hotel for about a week.

"First time I come to this town, this motel, I live here one week. Come to drink here, have a good time, Friday night, Saturday night, you know. I live here now, I very happy in this town," he said.

"I feel so sad that this hotel burning I very sad, very upset feels.

"I don't know what happened, I very sad, I don't believe it. I'm very sorry to all Gatton people lost a very, very antique building."

Heather Stegeman, who has lived in the Lockyer Valley all her life, talked about how she used to pick her daughter up from the pub after a night out.

"It used to be the old stamping ground in Gatton, really popular," she said.

Hotel declared 'illegal accommodation'

The owners had council approval to turn the hotel, originally called Warnemundi, into backpacker accommodation and it was undergoing renovations.

However in July the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services found it had been running as an "illegal and unsafe budget accommodation".

"If a fire started at this building, our officers were concerned the people inside would have had absolutely no chance of escape," the QFES said at the time.

"The threat to life at these premises was so serious that QFES officers decided to take action in the Supreme Court as a matter of urgency, to ensure the building owners did not continue to provide accommodation to any person."

Lockyer MP Ian Rickuss said it was a devastating scene.

"There is virtually nothing left of the Imperial Hotel — it is all on the ground," he said.

"It was a extremely dangerous situation here in town and obviously we have lost something that was fairly iconic.

"All of us have got memories of what happened in Childers."

Neighbouring businesses suffered smoke and water damage.

Andrew O'Brien and his family own the Supercheap Auto store next door, which was saved by firefighters.

"There's certainly damage there, the brick wall has been cooked, we've had a look and the real heroes here are the firies to prevent our building going up."

Topics: fires, gatton-4343, toowoomba-4350, ipswich-4305

First posted