Crews battle blaze in historic building, home to one of the ‘best’ restaurants on Kangaroo Island

A huge fire has ripped through one of Kangaroo Island’s best restaurants, leaving the community heartbroken.

The CFS fighting a fire that started inside the Seaview Motel in Kingscote. Picture: Sean McGowan

A large fire has broken out in a historic building on Kangaroo Island that is home to one of the best restaurants in the region.

Just before 6pm on Monday, emergency services were called to the Seaview Motel, at Kingscote, after the blaze started in the kitchen of the adjoining restaurant, The Odd Plate.

Several Country Fire Service crews battled the blaze, which spread to the roof of the building.

It took six CFS trucks with 36 firefighters and four support personnel to extinguish the fire.

The restaurant was closed with no one inside the premises when the fire started, and all motel guests were safely evacuated.

The damage bill was originally estimated to reach about $500,000. But the CFS said on Tuesday they managed to salvage more than they initially expected and that the bill would be revised down.

SA Weekend’s food reviewer Simon Wilkinson reviewed the restaurant in May, giving it a ‘very good’ rating of 15/20 and saying the kitchen expertise showed an “impressive commitment to make as much as possible in-house and track produce, however rare, from around the island”.

The island’s Mayor Michael Pengilly said the fire was a “kick in the guts” for the whole island.

The building is home to Kingscote’s The Odd Plate restaurant. Supplied

The building is home to Kingscote’s The Odd Plate restaurant. Supplied

“It’s just something we don’t need,” he said. “The restaurant is one of the best on the island.”

He said council would “bend over backwards” to help the owners get back on their feet.

“After going through the fires three and a half years ago, tourism was just starting to return, farmers were recovering, so this is just dreadfully sad,” he said.

“We will do all we can to assist to get it back up and running.”

The building was heritage-listed.

Mr Pengilly praised the work of CFS volunteers who continued to go above and beyond for the community.

“I can’t speak highly enough of them,” he said.

“They got there as fast as possible, they give up their own time, some will probably be on scene overnight away from their families. They do a mighty job over and over again on this island.”

According to The Odd Plate Facebook page, the restaurant closed on July 31 and was set to open again in September.