It's nine years since fire destroyed the Bottom Pub in Wingham.
The fire broke out in the early hours and quickly engulfed the timber structure.
On July 7, 2010 the Wingham Chronicle reported on the fire:
Almost 150 years of history went up in smoke on Monday morning.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
From its construction and opening in the 1850s, the Wingham Hotel has been a comforting presence for all who pass through.
The smouldering shell of the much-loved building has now become a sobering view.
Our Bottom Pub. Gone.
Hundreds surrounded the site on Monday morning to pay homage to the pub.
Smoke rose from the charred remains, curling upwards through the blackened framework. The town stared in disbelief.
Emergency services were called to the fire on the corner of Isabella and Wynter streets at 1.15am on Monday.
Two men, aged 54 and 26, and a 52-year-old woman were awoken by a barking dog and the hotel's fire alarms. They were able to escape before the building was engulfed in flames.
Eight appliances fought the blaze, two from Taree, one each from Wingham, Gloucester and Laurieton as well as a pumper and Hazmat vehicle from Port Macquarie.
A special aerial appliance called a Bronto Skylift was brought from Newcastle to enable firefighters to get to the seat of the blaze from a position on top of the fire.
A reported total of 55 firefighters were on the scene at one stage.
"When we got there, the roof was totally involved," Wingham fire captain Dave O'Donnell said.
"Our main concern was the garage and petrol station next door. We concentrated on the adjacent wall of the building first so the flames couldn't get near the gas cylinders or petrol."
Mr O'Donnell said fire crews focussed solely on containing the blaze. There was no question of saving the building.
It was an extreme blaze. But the positive is that there were no fatalities. We can at least be thankful for that.
"It was an extreme blaze," he said. "But the positive is that there were no fatalities. We can at least be thankful for that."
Traffic diversions around the hotel were still in place yesterday. The area remains under a police guard due to the danger of further structural collapse and possible asbestos on the site. Inquiries into the circumstances leading up to the fire are continuing.
A shocking loss for our town...just so glad to know that you are all alive!!! Thinking of you xo
So so sad. An iconic and significant piece of Wingham's heritage lost - quite unbelievable