Qld: Fire destroys historic hotel

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2009
Qld: Fire destroys historic hotel

BRISBANE, Aug 23 AAP - Fire has destroyed a historic hotel in the southeast Queensland
town of Warwick.

The blaze at the Universal Hotel, on Grafton Street, Warwick, was reported shortly
after 6.30pm (AEST) on Sunday and was well underway by the time emergency crews arrived,
police said.

Hundreds of local residents lined the street to watch as the blaze engulfed the 102-year-old
building, and hotel staff were visibly shaken, the Warwick Daily News reported on its
website.

Local historian Graham Gillam described the loss of the hotel, which was built in 1907,
as "a real tragedy".

"A part of Warwick's history is gone," Mr Gillam told the paper.

Police said that although two people staying at the hotel could not immediately be
accounted for, it's believed they weren't in their rooms at the time of the fire.

The cause of the fire has not been established and the scene will be guarded overnight
until a full examination is carried out on Monday.

AAP apm

KEYWORD: HOTEL

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