Justin, Helena and son Gabriel stood outside what was left of their house in Balmoral on Monday. They’d made the rocky outlook, which was once surrounded by pristine bushland, possums and lyrebirds, their home for the past 20 years.

Now their home is barely recognisable: the roof has collapsed, and the floor is covered in burnt timber, metal and possessions.

Gabriel hugs his mother, Helena, after returning to their burnt home at Balmoral. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Outside, pages from children’s books and a burnt overnight bag lay on the ground, mixed with ash and piles of melted glass. A chainsaw with a disintegrated motor sits on a nearby table, while the imprint of the wooden verandah surround the house.

The smell of burnt plastic and wood hangs in the air.