1936 Bundaberg distillery fire
{{short description|Fire in Queensland, Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Old news|date=March 2024}}
File:Fire rages at the Millaquin Distillery Bundaberg 1936.jpg
The 1936 Bundaberg distillery fire was a disaster in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia.
The fire
File:StateLibQld 2 392621 Fire at Millaquin Distillery, Bundaberg, Queensland, 1936.jpg
In the early evening of 21 November 1936 the Bundaberg Rum Distillery was struck by lightning. The resulting explosion caused a raging inferno within minutes, as the contents of the rum vats fed the flames. There were 63 vats of rum and spirits each containing 10,000 gallons.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36994029 |title=£200,000 DAMAGE IN RUM FIRE. |newspaper=The Courier-Mail |location=Brisbane |date=23 November 1936 |accessdate=9 December 2011 |page=13 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} This spectacular fire drew a large crowd of spectators and police cordoned off the area due to the intense heat. The glow from the flames could be seen as far away as Childers and Gin Gin. By midnight the flames were brought under control but the building itself was in ruins.
The aftermath
The damage was estimated to have been approximately £200,000. No deaths or injuries were reported. The fire also had a devastating effect on the wildlife in the adjacent Burnett River with thousands of dead fish washed up on the river bank including sharks, cod, salmon and barramundi.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41777225 |title=BUNDABERG FIRE. |newspaper=The Cairns Post |location=Qld. |date=24 November 1936 |accessdate=9 December 2011 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} The general manager of the distillery, which was owned by the Millaquin Sugar Company stated it was "one of the biggest fires in the history of the State".{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article62770089 |title=£200,000 DAMAGE. |newspaper=Townsville Daily Bulletin |location=Qld. |date=23 November 1936 |accessdate=9 December 2011 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}File:StateLibQld 1 391929 Fish killed by spillage in the Millaquin Distillery fire, Bundaberg, 1936.jpg
Recovery
Although it took three years the distillery was rebuilt and is currently operating on the same site today.
Legacy
The State Library of Queensland holds some of the original correspondence and financial records for the Bundaberg Distilling Co. Ltd relating to the 1936 fire.{{Citation | author1=Bundaberg Distilling Co | title=Bundaberg Distilling Co. Ltd. Records, 1907-1946 | publication-date=1907 | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/200349821 | accessdate=15 April 2018 }}
See also
{{Portal|Queensland}}
References
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External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VKCMjXZRxI Bundaberg Rum – 1936 Bundaberg Rum Distillery]
- [http://leaders.slq.qld.gov.au/inductees/83/ Bundaberg Distilling Company]
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Category:1936 disasters in Australia
Category:1930s fires in Oceania
Category:Disasters in Queensland
Category:Building and structure fires in Australia