1/25Firefighters on the balcony of The Palace Backpackers Hostel in the early hours.
25 PHOTOS: Looking back at Childers fire tragedy
TWENTY years on from one of the darkest days in the region, here’s some of the photos capturing the heartbreak of the Childers Palace Backpackers Hostel fire.
2/25An aerial view of the Palace Backpackers hostel the day of the fire, June 23, 2000. Photo: NewsMail
3/25The burnt out remains of The Palace Backpackers Hostel at Childers in north Queensland, Australia, in this Monday, Feb. 11, 2002, file photo, where fifteen young backpackers were killed in a fire on June 23, 2000. Robert Paul Long was convicted of murder and arson Friday March, 15, 2002 for starting the fire that killed the backpackers. Australian coroner ruled Friday July 7, 2006, that no additional charges should be brought over the arson attack at an Outback hostel that killed 15 tourists June 2000 at the Palace Backpackers Hostel in Childers,190 miles north of Brisbane. (AP Photo/Dennis Pasa)
4/25Fireman Darryl Livermore inspects remains of dormitory on upper level of Palace Backpackers Hostel in Childers, 27/06/00 following 23/06/00 fire that left 18 dead. Pic Anthony Weate.
5/25Firemen out front of the Palace Backpackers Hostel Childers where 15 died in the fire. Supplied/Paul/Burtell.
6/2523 Jun 2000 Childers locals out the front of the Palace Backpackers Hostel where 15 died after fire. Pic Paul Burtell.
7/25Ladder still stands beside balcony of The Palace Backpackers Hostel in Childers after fire broke out in early hours of 23/06/00 with at least fifteen dying. Pic Ron Wilson
8/25Police & SES officers outside Palace Backpackers Hostel in Childers 23/06/00 following overnight fire that killed 18. Pic Anthony Weate.
9/25Childers Palace Backpackers Hostel fire victims oil painting by artist Josmonia Palaitis 1- Moulay Lalaoui-Kama, Moroccan-born Australian 2- Hui-Kyoung Lee, Korea 3 -Michael Ernest Lewis, England 4 -Natalie Morris, Wales 5 -Julie O'Keeffe, Ireland 6 -Adam John Rowland, England 7 & 8 twins Kelly June Slarke and Stacey Louise Slarke, Australia 9 -Melissa Jane Smith, England 10 -Gary John Sutton, England 11 -Atsushi Toyona, Japan 12 -Joly Van der Velden, Netherlands 13 -Claire Louise Webb, England 14 -Sebastian Westerveld, Netherlands 15 -Sarah Ann Williams, Wales
10/25Princess Anne at scene of Palace Backpackers Hostel fire in Childers, Qld 29 Jun 2000. british royalty
11/25Princess Anne laying floral wreath at scene of Palace Backpackers Hostel fire in Childers, Qld 29 Jun 2000. british royalty
12/25WARNING NO ONPASS D/I Palace Backpackers Hostel fire at Childers, Qld - remains of tourist brochure in ashes 27 Jun 2000.
13/25WARNING NO ONPASS D/I Palace Backpackers Hostel fire at Childers, Qld - burned foyer and staircase through front door 27 Jun 2000.
14/25WARNING NO ONPASS D/I Palace Backpackers Hostel fire at Childers, Qld - survivors at Community Centre 26 Jun 2000.
15/25WARNING NO ONPASS D/I Palace Backpackers Hostel fire at Childers, Qld - fire officer Les Francis stabilising scaffold support in burned foyer 27 Jun 2000.
16/25Palace Backpackers Hostel fire at Childers, Qld - survivors of hostel fire grieving at town memorial service 25 Jun 2000.
17/25Palace Backpackers Hostel fire at Childers, Qld - flowers on park bench shrine opposite the hostel 24 Jun 2000.
18/25Palace Backpackers Hostel fire at Childers, Qld - emergency workers in front of building ruins 23 Jun 2000. /Fires/Australia Pic: Paul Burtell
19/25Palace Backpackers Hostel fire at Childers, Qld - note left on flowers by people mourning death of backpackers 24 Jun 2000.
20/25JULY 1, 2000 : Princess Anne is present with flowers by young boy Matthew Porter that she later laid at memorial for victims, following her visit to Palace Backpackers Hostel in Childers, 01/07/00 & later talked to survivors of fire that killed 15. Pic Patrick Hamilton. Queensland / Crime / Arson Royals
21/25JUNE 26, 2000 : Backpacker sleeps on table in park in Childers 26/06/00, survivor of Palace Backpackers Hostel fire on 23/06/00 that killed up to 18. Pic Anthony Weate. Queensland / Crime / Arson Tourist
22/25DIGIMAGE:NEWS:DHS:230600 Backpacker fire tragedy Childers,Qld. One of many young men and women who queued to use public phones all day across the road from the hostel.
23/25Q Weekend 23.06.10 Childers Memorial Service for the 10th Anniversary of the Fire at "The Palace Backpackers Hostel" where 15 Backpackers died. picture: Russell Shakespeare
24/25Memorial service first anniversary of Palace Backpackers Hostel fire in Childers, Queensland 23 Jun 2001.
25/25Princess Anne laying floral wreath at scene of Palace Backpackers Hostel fire in Childers, Qld 29 Jun 2000. british royalty
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