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Fire at 100-year-old NSW orphanage could mark end of heritage building

An abandoned orphanage in NSW has caught fire for the second night running, marking what could be the end of the heritage-listed building.

More than 30 firefighters from ACT Fire and Rescue crews and NSW responded to the blaze on Friday night, where the roof of the 100-year-old St John's Orphanage, in Goulburn, collapsed.

Two aerial hoses tackled the rooftop fire as a large section of the building's western side collapsed, however the NSW Rural Fire Service said the blaze may have destroyed the building.

ACT Fire and Rescue crews assisted NSW firefighters at Friday night's fire at the historic St John's Orphanage in Goulburn. Picture: Twitter/Mark Brown
ACT Fire and Rescue crews assisted NSW firefighters at Friday night's fire at the historic St John's Orphanage in Goulburn. Picture: Twitter/Mark Brown

Officers were investigating possible links between three fires which hit the orphanage in the past two-and-a-half weeks, including a blaze on October 17, Inspector Rob Post of Goulburn police told the Illawara Mercury.

Friday night's fire comes just 24 hours after crews saved the building, also referred to as the Goulburn Boys Orphanage, from another blaze, however the RFS cannot comment on the cause.


  • Goulburn orphanage owner 'devastated' by suspicious fire

The blazes struck exactly a year after the same orphanage was gutted by fire in an arson attack on November 5, 2015.

Following last year's fire, owner John Ferrara told police he was "devastated" by the loss of the iconic building, but hoped to restore it.

At the time, Mr Ferrara said the building was his "livelihood" and he "struggled to get [his] head around" overnight why it was deliberately set fire to.

The 100-year-old building was victim of an arson attack on November 5, 2015 - exactly a year before the latest blaze. Picture: 7 News
The 100-year-old building was victim of an arson attack on November 5, 2015 - exactly a year before the latest blaze. Picture: 7 News

"I only bought it because I loved the building - you've got to look after old stuff otherwise it simply won't be there," he told PRIME7 News.

"I don't understand, and I think there's some real questions to ask here, about how kids are being raised these days."

The orphanage was built in 1905 and opened in 1912, serving the local community for around 63 years.

The building has sat derelict since 1975.

News break – November 05