Tasmania Police ask for helping tracking down Peacock Centre suspects
Police are again asking for leads to help track down two young suspects who they believe could be involved in the Christmas Eve Peacock Centre fire.
Hobart & South
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Police are again asking for leads to help track down two young suspects who they believe could be involved in the Peacock Centre fire last week.
The two young men were described by police to be roughly 19 to 20 years old of slim build, and roughly 172 metres tall.
When they were spotted near the Peacock Centre at the time of the fire, one of them was wearing a black hoodie, while the other had a white jumper and blonde hair.
As part of the investigation, police are also asking about a separate vegetation fire near Argyle Street and Burnett Street that broke out shortly before the Peacock Centre fire.
The fire started around 8.30pm and caused significant damage to the building on Elphinstone Road.
Detective Acting Inspector Mathew Adams said they were renewing their calls for anyone with information of video footage to come forward.
“If anyone has information in relation to the fire or suspicious activity in the area around the time, police urge them to come forward,” said Detective A/Inspector Adams.
“We’re also asking for businesses or residents in the area to check their CCTV around the time of the fire and forward onto police for investigation.”
Anyone with information that would assist investigators is asked to call Hobart CIB on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.
Peacock Centre to rise from the ashes
AFTER being severely damaged by flames a second time, the Peacock Centre will be rebuilt after fire tore through the structure on Christmas Eve.
The centre was in the middle of a rebuild following a serious fire in 2016 that left the facility gutted.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the blaze would delay the completion date, which was expected in mid-2022.
“Having visited the site today and witnessing the devastating impact that this fire has had on the facility, I feel deflated and saddened for the many Tasmanians who would have benefited from this service from mid-2022,” Mr Rockliff said.
“This project has enormous community goodwill, and while this setback hits hard, we will continue to see it through to completion.”
An assessment is being conducted, after which a new timeline for completion will be revealed.
“My thoughts are also with the project team, builders and contractors who have worked tirelessly to bring this project to fruition,” Mr Rockliff said.
When complete the centre will operate as a mental health hub, with a 12-bed wing to provide short-term stays.
“The hub will help people through their recovery journey, with a range of services including housing, alcohol and drug, social, and employment,” Mr Rockliff said.
History repeats: What’s next for fire-ravaged Peacock Centre
As smoke and flames billowed into the sky from Mount Stuart on Christmas Eve, it was difficult to shake off the sense of deja vu.
This month five years ago, the Peacock Centre was partially destroyed by a deliberately lit fire, resulting in a damage bill exceeding $2m. Now it’s been ravaged by a suspicious blaze all over again.
It comes as the site undergoes a $9.6m redevelopment, with the state government envisioning it as an integrated mental health care hub, including a short-stay 12-bed wing for people needing additional care before re-entering the community after a hospital stay.
Prior to the 2016 arson attack, the Peacock Centre was primarily used as a day centre for mental health clients. It had been home to 25 Tasmania Health Service staff.
David Leslie Chandler, a diagnosed schizophrenic, was found guilty in 2018 of setting the building on fire. He told police he blamed the mental health system for ruining his life. It is not suggested that Chandler had any involvement in the most recent fire.
On December 7, 2016, Chandler had phoned the Peacock Centre and spoke to a receptionist. He demanded to speak to a particular doctor and became abusive when he was told the doctor wasn’t available.
Chandler then went to a Moonah service station and purchased $5 worth of petrol, which he put in a container. He drove to the Peacock Centre, went inside and splashed the fuel around, yelling, “I’m going to kill you all and burn the place down”.
He was sentenced to three-and-a-half years’ jail and an indefinite period of detention in the Wilfred Lopes Centre.
Police have deemed the most recent fire at the Peacock Centre as suspicious, and have released descriptions of two potential suspects.
Built in 1912, the stately federation home – originally known as Ruardean – initially belonged to jam factory owner Dr W.D. Peacock. It was bequeathed to the state government by the Peacock family in 1921 and used as a convalescence centre for women recovering from acute diseases and medical procedures.
Local architecture firm Xsquared Architects has designed the Peacock Centre redevelopment, which was on track to be completed by the middle of next year.
It was set to include communal visitor spaces, personal reflection spaces, treatment and counselling spaces, a cafe with a kitchen, and new and restored landscaping.
The Peacock Centre is listed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register as a prime example of a two-storey brick federation domestic building.
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