Arson Suspected
Thursday 16 October, 2001

Police are treating as suspicious a fire which destroyed a historic building at North Head's Quarantine Station in the early hours of Saturday. Damage from the fire has been estimated at more than $1 Million.

The fire, which broke out about 2am, destroyed a 118-year-old building originally built as third-class accommodation for newly arrived migrants.

The building features in a controversial plan by the Mawland Hotel Management Group to redevelop the Quarantine Station into a boutique hotel and restaurant complex and conference and education centre.

The group is negotiating a 45-year lease of the site from the National Parks and Wildlife Service and its proposal is the subject of an environmental impact statement.

Mawland had planned to use the building for adult education and accommodation. It was the only accommodation building the group was barred from converting to include ensuites.

Mawland chief Max Player is overseas and could not be contacted for comment.

Investigating officer northern beaches Detective-Sergeant John Pedergast said fire investigators had found no evidence of an accelerant being used to fuel the fire, first spotted by a resident in the area about 3am.

He said the police were open-minded at this stage about the causes but that it was being treated as an arson attack.

He said a boomgate pole at the front gate of the station was bent after midnight.

The final tour of the Quarantine Station on Friday night ended at midnight and the tour leader had left the station by 12:15am.

Friends of the Quarantine Station (FroQS) members and Manly MP David Barr said the fire could have been prevented if the National Parks and Wildlife Service had heeded warnings about inadequate security at the station.

The building was described by FroQS member John Simpson as "the most intact early accommodation building to survive at the station".

He said the NPWS had been given warnings about security at the station following two incidents last year.

The first occurred when a car driven by young people careered into and damaged one building and on another occasion police were called after youths smashed 16 windows and damaged walls.

"The building had just been cleaned and spruced up and looked so good you could have moved in," he said.

"It was in perfect condition - intact and immaculate - and was the building which showed you didn't need to do major works to conserve it.

"But the fire was preventable - I have been warning them to keep people out of the station at night."

Mr. Barr said the failure of security at the site was linked to the running-down of the station by the NPWS over many years.

"The way the Quarantine Station has been left without adequate security is a reflection of the careless way it has been treated for years," he said.

NPWS acting director-general Michael Wright said specialists were assessing the site to see if any materials could be salvaged from the fire and were yet to decide what to do with the remains of the building.

"We will need to work with associated parties to consider the implications of the loss of this building on the Environmental Impact Statement (for the Mawland proposal), however it is to early at this stage to say what those implications may be," Mr. Wright said.

The investigation into the fire is continuing and police say they are interested in hearing from anyone who may know of any activity in the grounds on Friday night and early Saturday morning.

Anyone with details can call Sgt. Pendergast at Dee Why police station on 9971 3399 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 1300 333 000.