Ballarat Central’s Handcrafts & Collectable Models, Tobacco Station on Sturt and Drummond St gutted by fire

A gift shop featuring model cars that doubles as a tobacco store has been destroyed by fire in Ballarat overnight as police remain at the scene.

Police attended a fire at the Handcraft and collectables store and tobacco station on Sturt St and Drummond St Ballarat Central on Wednesday 28 February. Picture: Timothy Cox

A model car shop that doubles as a tobacco store has been gutted by a suspicious fire in Ballarat overnight.

Emergency services were called to a shop fire at the corner of Sturt St and Dummond St, Ballarat Central about 3.48am Wednesday.

The impacted business was the Handcrafts & Collectable Models store, which also has a tobacco station counter inside.

Police tape blocked off the area on Wednesday morning as detectives were seen speaking with shop owners of neighbouring businesses.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said a man was inside the building at the time but was not injured.

Police remained at the scene after fire broke out at Ballarat Central’s Handcraft and Collectable Models store on Wednesday. Picture: Timothy Cox

“Investigators are treating the fire as a targeted attack and will look at any possible links to other recent fires,” the spokeswoman said.

The inside and contents of the business were extensively damaged but the structure appeared to be in good condition.

There was glass strewn across the footpath with Ballarat residents going about their day and walking directly past the store with their children and dogs.

The owner of the shop started the business only about five months ago.

He said he put most of his money into the store and just managed to cover the rent while hardly paying himself a wage.

He said he worked 9am to 7pm to scrape by and was only now building up his customer base.

“All gone,” he said.

Police tape surrounded a burnt out car found near Eureka in Ballarat East on Wednesday. Picture: Timothy Cox

It follows reports of a car fire just minutes earlier on Eureka St, Ballarat East.

Police will investigate whether a car found on fire just minutes before emergency services were called to the shop was connected.

It comes as firefighters spent two hours battling a blaze at an electronics business in Geelong on Wednesday morning.

A Fire Rescue Victoria spokesman said the building was fully alight when crews arrived at the Mercer St scene about 2am.