Historic hop kiln burnt to the ground in mystery blaze

The cause of a blaze that destroyed a century-old hop kiln in the Derwent Valley remains under investigation. The property owner said the “ferocious” fire took hold quickly.

Pictures of the fire that destroyed the century-old Hopgrove hop kiln at Lachlan. Picture: DAMIAN BESTER

FIRE investigators are yet to determine the cause of a blaze that destroyed a historic hop kiln in the Derwent Valley.

The century-old Hopgrove hop kiln in Lachlan was burnt to the ground on May 31, causing an estimated $400,000 damage.

A spokeswoman for Tasmania Fire Service said the cause remained undetermined.

Crews from New Norfolk, Lachlan, Gretna and Bushy Park volunteer fire brigades were called to the fire at 3.30pm, arriving to find the three-storey hop kiln well alight.

It took crews several hours to completely extinguish the fire.

Property owner Jack Lomax said the “ferocious” fire took hold quickly.