THE hippy heart of Nimbin burnt to the ground in the early hours of this morning, destroying the town’s key tourism attractions and creating a “bloody mess”.

“The place went up in smoke, the joint is on fire, there are plenty of puns you can make up, it is Nimbin,” Alan Salt said of the fire that destroyed the iconic Rainbow Café and Nimbin Museum.

The fire, which is being treated as suspicious, destroyed several historic buildings built in 1926.

“Probably just someone stupid trying to keep warm, but it’s taken out the hippy icons,” Mr Salt said.

media_camera The fire, which destroyed a number of historic buildings, is being treated as suspicious. Picture: Jason O'Brien

Museum manager Michael Balderstone told ABC Local Radio the blaze would have a “huge impact” on the town and its tourism trade.

“It’s really right in the middle of town, the Rainbow’s probably the heart,” he said.

“The museum’s the biggest tourist attraction. It’s a bloody mess

Mr Salt, a resident since 1974, and vice-president of the Hemp Embassy directly across the road from the cafe, woke at 4am to the sounds of something “electrical”.

media_camera The smoking remains of the buildings shocked locals this morning. Picture: Twitter

“I was perfectly placed, I could hear something that sounded like electrical arcing like someone was welding and the Rainbow Café was totally engulfed in fire,” the 62-year-old said.

“Then something fell over on to the Nimbin Museum and it just burnt to the ground. It’s burnt into Tribal Magic and Bring-a-Bong too.”

The Rainbow Café was set up for the 1973 Aquarius Festival which is what Nimbin is most famous for.

media_camera Fire crews inspect the site this morning. Picture: Northern Star/Twitter

Jodee Ticheorne has been managing the Rainbow Café for 10 years and said it employed 20 people who will now be without a job.

“It’s a devastating day, it’s been employment for 20 people, 20 families rely on this business and it was a safe place for children to come and play and get healthy food,” Ms Ticheorne said.

She said she hoped the building, owned by the Tuntable Falls Co-operative, a local commune, would be rebuilt and the café could once again serve its famous chips.

“Our food was exceptional; our chips were made from real potatoes,” she said.

media_camera The blaze took hold quickly after 3.30am. Picture: Channel 9 / Twitter

Mr Balderstone, founder of the Hemp Embassy directly across the road from the Rainbow Café, was also the owner of the Nimbin Museum which was also razed.

The museum, which was established 30 years ago, housed a historical assortment of cannabis imbibing instruments and artwork.

“It’s gone now, I’m in shock, it a big hit to the community, we’ve lost a lot of beautiful artwork, but the middle of Nimbin looks like a big black hole,” Mr Balderstone said.

media_camera The iconic buildings were located at the very centre of Nimbin. Picture: Northern Star / Twitter

“It was lucky there was no wind because the fire could have taken out the whole village,” Mr Balderstone said.

Fire & Rescue NSW attended the scene around 3.30am and extinguished the blaze.

“The Rainbow Café has been a major tourism attraction and major employer,” Andrew Walker from the tourism information centre said.

media_camera Before the fire: Nimbin’s main attractions in all their glory. Picture: Tim Marsden

“There are a lot of devastated people in the village today,” he said.

A crime scene has been established and specialist forensic investigators will be examining the site once it has been deemed safe to enter.

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