Ky West Hotel Kyabram destroyed by fire, fundraiser launched

Police investigators have finished their probe into the cause of the fire which razed the Ky West pub just over a week ago. See what happens next.

The Ky West hotel in Kyabram has been destroyed by fire. Picture: Ky West Hotel Facebook page.

Update:

Police have ruled out arson as the cause of the Ky West Hotel fire.

Investigators had been at the scene intermittently since the blaze which razed the iconic watering hole shortly after midnight on March 21.

An electrical fault in wiring in the ceiling is understood to have started the blaze.

Former owner of the pub Wayne Cowley, who had priceless sports memorabilia on the walls when the hotel was destroyed, said insurers would now assess the damage.

“I would have had about 200 -300 phone calls since it happened from people full of sorrow over it,” he said.

“I don’t know if it will be rebuilt, but insurance should take care of that.

“A lot of people are very sad about it and want it rebuilt.

“If we have to do some fundraising to cover the gap between insurance and what it costs to rebuild then that’s something we can do later.

“There’s been a lot of support and there are a lot of sentimental reasons to rebuilt it.”

Earlier:

The devastated owner of a country pub near Shepparton has fought back tears while surveying the charred remains of the beloved Ky West hotel.

The landmark pub, built in 1876, was destroyed by fire overnight.

Owner Matt Ford, 29, was surrounded by pub patrons who gathered at the site of the landmark building on Graham Rd, Kyabram.

All that remained on Tuesday afternoon were the curled and folded corrugated iron sheets which once formed its bullnose veranda and two brick chimneys.

Owner of the Ky West Hotel Matt Ford is embraced by pub patron Liz Young, at the scene of the beloved pub. It was burned to the ground on March 21. Behind them is former owner of the hotel, Wayne Cowley. Picture: Julieanne Strachan

Mr Cowley, who sold the pub to Mr Ford three years ago, said the old weatherboard construction would have “gone up like paper”.

A CFA spokeswoman said 13 vehicles and crews, along with support from police, battled the blaze for just under two hours and brought it under control at 1.56am on March 21.

The scene was deemed safe at 3am Tuesday March 21 after crews extinguished 90 per cent of the fire.

“Matt wanted to buy it for so long, we worked here together,” Mr Cowley said.

“We used to do 200 meals on a Wednesday night. It’s famous here for the Wednesday night pot and parmi. “The car park would be choc a bloc.

“When I did sell it to him he did so much to improve it including putting in a beer garden.

“There will be a lot of sad people today.”

Community members have already set about trying to get enough funds to rebuild it.

However, Mr Ford said it was too early to think about whether he would attempt a rebuild.

He was comforted by Mr Cowley and a steady stream of patrons and friends who stopped to see it for themselves.

Patrons of the Ky West hotel Terry Atkins and Liz Young offer emotional support to the owner of the pub’s owner Matt Ford and former owner Wayne Cowley, flanked Alan Backway. The pub burned down in the early hours of March 21. Picture: Julieanne Strachan

Among them was Penelope Healey, who was a regular at the pub and celebrated her hen’s night there about 20 years ago.

“There are a lot of memories in that pub. I tried three times to buy it,” she said.

“It was beautiful on the inside. It had so much character.”

Social media lit up on Tuesday morning with photos showing the devastating scene and the charred remains of the burnt-down pub.

Bruce Walkeden wrote: “Our community have shared many memories and made some good friends over many generations. It was a great venue for many families who have shared special occasions and we will miss you old friend.”

Andrew Shultz said the pub fire was “devastating news”, while the Girgarre Football Netball Club said their thought were the owners and described it as its “spiritual home”.

The remains of the Ky West hotel following a devastating fire on March 21, 2023. Picture: Julieanne Strachan

Jeff Scotland of the Australian Cricket Society said he and 11 others had been drinking at the pub on Monday afternoon.

“It’s been our unofficial club house for years,” he said.

“The team is staying in Echuca and we always come here. I was driving past and thought ‘oh my God’ it’s gone. I had to pull over.”

Tegan Brooks started a GoFundMe to help the pub’s owners “pick up the pieces” late on Tuesday morning, saying it would have been “a living nightmare” for them.

“Our favourite little town pub has been destroyed by a fire … Help me, help them, please …

Let’s help them pick up the pieces together with action over words,” she wrote. ️