Tewantin alleged teen torture home being demolished as future plans revealed

A social housing property in a usually quiet suburban Tewantin area will be demolished after being ransacked and burnt to the ground following an alleged teen torture.

A Tewantin home where a 13-year-old girl was allegedly tortured will be demolished after burning to the ground. Now, plans for the future of the property have been revealed.

A Tewantin housing commission property, which burned to the ground in a suspicious blaze after a teenage girl was allegedly tortured inside, will be demolished as plans for the future of the site are revealed.

The home was allegedly deliberately torched in the early hours of March 29, just over two weeks after three girls, aged 12, 13 and 14, allegedly tortured a 13-year-old girl over several hours at the property on March 11.

The three girls face serious charges as police allege they prevented the 13-year-old girl from leaving and filmed her while being assaulted, taunted and cut with a knife.

Footage of the alleged incident was uploaded to social media, sparking mass outrage online.

A 13-year-old girl was allegedly tortured at the hands of three other girls inside the Tewantin home for hours on end. Photo: Instagram

A Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy spokesperson confirmed the home would be demolished and the department would consider appropriate future uses.

As of April 11, the house had not been demolished but fencing had been placed around it.

They said the site was zoned low density residential, meaning it would not be turned into a block of units.

In March, it was reported more than 50,000 people were on the waiting list for community housing.

The house is in the process of being demolished, the spokesperson said. Photo: Chloe Grimshaw

“We are disappointed a social housing property was damaged,” they said.

The spokesperson said the Queensland Government understood the importance of social housing for vulnerable residents.

They urged anyone who has witnessed illegal activity to contact police immediately.

The house was believed to have been set on fire just days after it was boarded up due to being ransacked and vandalised. 

Neighbours of the alleged torture house said they heard roof tiles “popping” after the blaze broke out. No one was inside the home at the time. Photo: Supplied

One of the tradies called to board up the home, who asked not to be named, told the Sunshine Coast Daily they had been called back to the property the day before the fire to reboard it after a Molotov cocktail was thrown inside.

An investigation into the blaze launched but Sunshine Coast Criminal Investigation Branch Officer In Charge Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Mansfield said police were yet to identify any suspects.

They were investigating a myriad of CCTV footage, he said.

Investigations are ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact police immediately.

If you are in need of housing assistance on the Sunshine Coast, contact the Maroochydore Housing Service Centre on [phone] during business hours, or contact the 24/7 Homeless Hotline on 1800 474 753.