Massive $20m mansion destroyed by fire in affluent Melbourne suburb

Flames could be seen from neighbouring properties as the massive fire tore through the two-storey mansion in the upmarket Melbourne suburb on one of the city’s swankiest streets.

A two-storey mansion in an prestigious suburb of Melbourne’s east has gone up in flames in the early hours of Friday morning. Picture: ABC

The owner of a multimillion two-storey mansion in one of Melbourne’s most prestigious suburbs says it was a “hell of a shock” to watch the home be destroyed by a “raging inferno.”

Fire Rescue Victoria was called to the large property on the corner of St Georges Rd and Ultimo CT in Toorak about 12.20am Friday after the home was engulfed in flames.

Smoke billowed from the roof and flames grew so high they were visible from neighbouring properties.

Smoke was so thick crews were forced to wear breathing apparatus, but managed to stop the fire spreading to adjoining properties.

The house was completely engulfed in flames. Picture: ABC

Firefighters warned nearby residents of smoke inhalation. Picture: Supplied

The homeowner, builder Gerry Hoggard, said he believed a person poured accelerant over the building for it to cause such a massive fire.

“I don’t know who would have done it,” he told The Australian.

“But I can tell you that by the extent of the fire, and knowing how it’s built, somebody has put accelerant all over the building.

“It’s built on a concrete slab, its got brick walls, it’s got non-combustible (material) between each floor.

“If it had been a random thing – an electrical short, or whatever – we would have got minor damage.

“I spoke to the fireys and the police … and everybody was of the same opinion. The fire was like a raging inferno.

“There is some video, early on, and there was this massive, massive of fire coming out of the front of the property and timber just doesn’t burnt like that.”