Andamooka, the town without a pub, targeted in spate of arson attacks, police seek witnesses

A spate of suspicious fires in a Far North town – one that left locals without prospects of a pub reopening soon – are now being probed by police.

Police are investigating suspicious fires in the Far North town of Andamooka that destroyed a historic hotel under renovation and are urging witnesses to come forward.

The four fires, which broke out between December 20 and the early hours of the next morning, dashed locals’ hopes for an open pub in the town after the Opal Hotel was gutted.

In the first incident on Monday afternoon, a home on Sultan Rd was reported alight with volunteers rushing to contain the blaze, which caused significant damage to a shed on the property.

Witnesses since reported seeing a small silver sedan at the address driven by a man prior to the fire.

The second broke out in the early hours of the morning at the old Opal Hotel, on Opal Creek Boulevard.

Two homes and the Opal Hotel were gutted in suspicious fires at Andamooka. Picture: supplied.

More than 20 volunteer firefighters with a bulk water carrier contained the fire and saved an adjoining accommodation block but the hotel was gutted and the damage bill was set at $250,000.

A short time later, crews contained a house fire on Dynamite Drive, which destroyed a garden shed and small part of the adjoining property.

Police were advised by witnesses a fourth fire was lit on a small patch of grass but was extinguished by members of the public nearby.

An investigation is underway and police are seeking witnesses to assist in identifying the male seen near the Sultan Rd property.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Co-lease holder of the Opal Hotel, Ben Roberts, said he was devastated to wake to the news the pub had been destroyed, which was in the process of being redeveloped by himself and another local, Ben Beaumont.

The Opal Hotel at Andamooka was destroyed in a suspicious blaze. Picture: CFS SA

CFS firefighters were at the hotel on Tuesday morning. Picture: supplied.

“I’m a bit gutted actually,” Mr Roberts said.

“It was a lifeline for the town again, because the town’s been without a pub since all this Covid started, and this was a way to sort of reunite, and get tourism back here.”

The Opal Hotel closed nine years ago, and the other Andamooka pub, the Tuckabox Hotel closed in April 2019. It is not known whether the building was insured.

Mr Roberts, 42, said Andamooka is the gateway to the outback and deserved to have a functioning hotel for visitors and locals.

Supplied Editorial The fire caused $250,000 worth of damage to the pub. Picture: Ben Roberts

Historic art decorating the walls of Andamooka Opal Hotel was destroyed in the fire. Picture: Ben Roberts

“It’s just disappointing, because we had a massive amount of support from the local community, even people in Roxby, they were keen to see the old Opal Hotel open because it's a bit of an icon, not to mention all the hand painted murals and artworks on the walls,” he said.

He was furious to find out police believe the fire may have been deliberately lit.

“It’s the history that was lost, there’s a lot of memories in that pub, a lot of photos on the wall, so it’s a big chunk of Andamooka’s history and future gone by the callous act of one thoughtless individual.”

Though not much work had been done in the redevelopment, hopes have been dashed to open the pub again by June.

“Now it’s a bulldoze job and start again, not a lot can be salvaged,” Mr Roberts said.

“We still want to put some life back into the town, we’ll get there, it will just take a little bit longer,” he said.