The owners of a bed and breakfast on Queensland’s Tamborine Mountain have vowed to rebuild after their business was destroyed in a fire on New Year’s Eve.

Owners Ania Sowter, 67, and husband Philip Sowter, 72, told 9news.com.au they hope to reopen the restaurant and art gallery, which showcases Polish culture, by September at the earliest.

They intend to rebuild in “more or less” the same style, down to the two painted cut-out storks perched on the roof.

“Thirty-four years in the making – I just didn’t want to let it go to ash. Let’s do it again,” Ms Sowter said.

Bouquets have been left outside the site of the former restaurant. (9NEWS/Ehsan Knopf)

(9NEWS/Ehsan Knopf)

The Sowter’s decision comes more than a month after fire tore through their business early on December 31.

Ms Sowter, who lived in the apartment above, described waking to the smell of smoke and fleeing with her husband and six-year-old grandson.

She said that at one point the flames were so fierce that the steps of a nearby fire truck began to melt.

(9NEWS/Ehsan Knopf)

“It was like a nightmare you wanted to wake up from,” she said.

“I was in disbelief. It was just too big to comprehend.”

Fine art, Polish artefacts and an amber collection were among the possessions lost in the fire, which is believed to have been sparked by a malfunctioning fridge.

Tambourine Mountain residents search the rubble for personal effects. (9NEWS/Ehsan Knopf)

(9NEWS/Ehsan Knopf)

Last week, members of the community gathered to help Ms Sowter comb through the rubble in search of belongings.

Among the few items recovered were two traditional Polish pierogi pastries – “Smoked well – carbonised!” – and a ring.

Carbonised pierogi. (9NEWS/Ehsan Knopf)

A number of items have been recovered from the restaurant's remains. (9NEWS/Ehsan Knopf)

(9NEWS/Ehsan Knopf)

Ms Sowter said the spontaneous show of support was an example of the “overwhelming response” she and her family had received since the fire.

“The Polish ambassador interrupted his holiday to come and support us, because he knew our place was a significant centre for Polish culture,” she said.

“We also had a huge response over social media. It was probably the best reflection of how much we were loved, how much our place meant to the public.”

The rear of the restaurant. (9NEWS/Ehsan Knopf)

The fire only caused minor damage to the back deck. (9NEWS/Ehsan Knopf)

The Sowters established the business 34 years ago, after visiting Tamborine Mountain during their honeymoon.

Their coffee shop and art gallery quickly took off and later expanded into a fully-fledged restaurant with cottage accommodation.

Ms Sowter said that despite being near retirement age, she hopes to continue running the restaurant well into the future.

The Polish Place prior to the fire. (Facebook/The Polish Place)

“We just loved what we were doing and we have no reason to stop,” she said.

“At the moment we are still probably like zombies… but we didn’t lose family members, we are healthy, we are okay.

“So far the help we are receiving is just embarrassing in many ways, because we’ve never sort of been shouted so many things as we are now.

“It’s a very nice feeling to be loved, and I think that really keeps us positive and wanting to do it again.”