Blaze destroys 125-year-old Townsville pub
A heritage-listed hotel has been destroyed in a fire that shut down the Townsville central business district on Friday morning.
A Public Safety Preservation Act was declared at 8:40am and Queensland Police warned residents to avoid the streets surrounding the Great Northern Hotel.
The smoke and heat damaged a nearby cafe. (Supplied: Britt Theris)
Queensland Fire Department (QFD) crews were called to the fire at 6:14am and spent four hours working to bring the blaze under control.
A QFD spokesperson said the fire had been contained and that the Great Northern Hotel had partially collapsed.
The heritage-listed Great Northern Hotel was destroyed by fire on Friday. (Supplied: Townsville Citylibraries)
The hotel was built in 1900 but had been closed since a fire in 2015.
The family who owns the pub have told the ABC they are deeply devastated by the fire.
A spokesperson said the venue was truly loved by the Townsville community.
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