Historic Commonwealth Bank building in flames, courthouse evacuated

Detectives are urging anyone with information to come forward after multiple “suspicious” fires started inside a 120-year-old heritage-listed building in the Mackay city centre. LATEST

Mackay detectives are appealing for information after multiple “suspicious” fires started inside a 120-year-old heritage-listed building in the Mackay city centre.

Emergency crews rushed to the old Commonwealth Bank at 65 Victoria St about 9.30am March 28 after staff at neighbouring properties reported seeing smoke coming from the building, which also triggered an evacuation of the courthouse.

Upon arrival, firefighters were confronted with black smoke billowing out of the windows on both the ground and first level with police and paramedics also called to attend.

Inspector Russell Collier said firefighters had extinguished two separate fires and had scoured to find possible others.

Mr Collier said it was unclear how the fires started at the early stages of investigation but arson could not be ruled out.

At least six Queensland Fire and Emergency Service Crews were called to 65 Victoria St, Mackay, on Thursday, March 28, 2024. Picture: QFES Facebook

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said the “fire is being treated as suspicious at this stage” with a crime scene having been declared shortly after noon Thursday.

A police officer could be seen taking photographs of gas bottles beside a fire truck outside the building, as officers shut the street to traffic between Sydney St and Brisbane St.

Police on Sunday confirmed the fires were still being treated as suspicious with Criminal Investigation Branch detectives appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

A QPS spokeswoman said if anyone had seen anything of a suspicious nature in the area in before, during or after the fires to phone police.

Firefighters at the historic Commonwealth Bank building on Victoria St, Mackay battling a blaze at 9:40am, March 24, 2024. Picture: Fergus Gregg

The heritage-listed building, believed to have been built in 1880, had been for sale after refurbishment works at the site were abandoned years before.

Squatters were known to be living inside but there were no persons present inside the building when firefighters entered.

The Queensland Fire and Emergency Service was tasked to more than a dozen structural fires on Thursday “including several where homes were completely destroyed”.

“Thankfully there have been no reports of serious injury as a result,” it posted to Facebook.

“It’s a good reminder for all Queenslanders to be aware of home fire safety and switch off all electrical appliances at the wall if you are about to head away on Easter holidays.”

Originally published as Historic Commonwealth Bank building in flames, courthouse evacuated