Footscray fire: factory owner recently raided by ATO

A factory destroyed by fire in Melbourne’s west is owned by an accountant raided by the ATO and is linked to a bikie on drugs charges.

The factory fire at Tottenham. Picture: Nicole Garmston

A factory destroyed by fire, which left a toxic plume over Melbourne’s western suburbs, is owned by an accountant recently raided by the Australian Taxation Office and is linked to a bikie on drugs charges.

Christopher Baldwin, the sole director of Danbol Pty Ltd, bought the property at 420 Somerville Rd in Tottenham in 2011 for $3.6 million. The Australian broke early last month that he was raided by the ATO as part of a crackdown in illegal phoenix activity, and his alleged role in establishing a high-interest lender.

On Thursday morning the Tottenham factory he is moving out of exploded, spewing out toxic fumes. The fire is under control but black smoke was still swirling across Melbourne’s west on Friday. Firefighters are expected to take three or four days to clean up the site.

Mr Baldwin told the Herald Sun the fire was unrelated to his troubles with the ATO.

“I’m just co-operating, I’ve done nothing wrong,” he said. “I’ve got nothing to hide.”

“The things with the ATO are just an invasion of privacy and so forth. I don’t believe I’ve got anything to hide in relation to that either.”

The Australian is not suggesting Mr Baldwin has done anything wrong.

Mr Baldwin said he had removed a tenant six weeks ago as he was behind on rent.

“There are a lot of disgruntled creditors out there of his,” he said, “He cost me a heap of money too.

“In recent weeks the new tenant had been visited by people looking to recoup money from the previous tenant ... He said there’s been people coming in demanding money.”

A former director of the business that owns the factory is alleged Hells Angels bikie Reginald George Roberts. He is in custody in South Australia, awaiting trial over the nation’s biggest ice bust.

More than 120 firefighters and 30 fire trucks were sent to the industrial warehouse on Thursday. Victoria Police could not confirm if the arson squad was investigating the blaze.

The Metropolitan Fire Brigade said on Friday that the current occupier was co-operating with authorities. It is believed bulk acetone, most often used as nail polish remover, and oxyacetylene products were stored in the warehouse.

Victoria Police could not confirm if the arson squad was investigating.

A company called Connect Pty Ltd has had a caveat on the building since last month. Sole director Anthony Boyle was approached for comment through his solicitor Gerald Conlan.