Owners eye up rebuild after Maleny spa at Spicers Tamarind Retreat burns down
A day spa that was destroyed in a devastating fire at the Sunshine Coast will be rebuilt, with the owners thanking the community for their support. PHOTOS, VIDEO.
Sunshine Coast
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A high-end day spa in Maleny that was destroyed in a devastating fire over the weekend will be rebuilt, with the operators thanking the community for all their messages of support.
Spa Anise, at the Spicers Tamarind Retreat in Obi Lane, is owned by Jude Turner, who is the wife of Flight Centre co-founder and chief executive Graham ‘Skroo’ Turner.
Crews were called to Spa Anise about 6.20am Sunday and a crime scene was declared about 8.30am, but police later declared the blaze not suspicious.
Spicers Retreat marketing director Sue Johnson said the entire day spa building was completely lost in the fire.
“It is very early days but we will rebuild it, what that looks like I’m not sure,” she said.
“The police finished their investigation yesterday so we will start planning now.”
Ms Johnson said the nearby retreat and restaurant were able to operate as normal.
“We have really strong bookings leading up to Christmas, with people celebrating at the restaurant with family and friends and the same with the retreat. And we are expecting that continue,” she said.
“We are very grateful that there were no injuries and that no one was in danger.”
Ms Johnson said they were not sure yet what had caused the blaze but they were thankful for all the support they had received.
“It is once again showing what a wonderful community we’re in up here,” she said.
A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokesman said the building’s roof collapsed and was still burning when help arrived.
Regional on-call fire investigator Bruce Groer, from Kingaroy, arrived at the scene about 11.30am and police guarded the scene throughout the day.
After finishing his investigation, Mr Groer said the cause of the fire was “undetermined” due to the amount of destruction and “after burn” at the site.
“The area of origin is that of around the laundry area, however this is just the area where the most amount of damage and destruction has occurred,” he said.
Earlier, Nambour Police Detective Sergeant Paul Reilly said the award-winning day spa was in a secluded place away from the road and neighbours at the Spicers Tamarind Retreat.
He said the fire burnt for some time before a woman who lived nearby saw the blaze from across a valley.
“She saw flames in the early hours of the morning, she approached staff here and alerted staff to what was happening,” he said
“We haven’t managed to identify that woman and we’d like to talk to her as she may have some information which may be pertinent.”
The detective said the building was destroyed and police forensic officers along with the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services fire investigator were combing the scene.
“It appears that the fire burnt for hours overnight before it was detected,” Sergeant Reilly said.
Neighbour Neal O’Malley said it was usually quiet on Obi Lane.
He had lived opposite the retreat for two years.
“They’re beautiful people and I feel sorry for them,” he said.
“They’ve got a good business running.
“We all look out for each other.”
He said there had never been any trouble with guests or staff.
The fire was one of two in the Sunshine Coast region on Sunday morning.
Three people were also forced to flee a burning home at Nambour.
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