1936 Bundaberg distillery fire

Fire in Queensland, Australia June 2020 August 2019 March 2024 thumb|Fire raging at the Distillery, 1936 The 1936 Bundaberg distillery fire was a disaster in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia. The fire thumb|Distillery totally ablaze, 1936 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.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36994029 £200,000 DAMAGE IN RUM FIRE. The Courier-Mail Brisbane 23 November 1936 9 December 2011 13 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. thumb|Distillery destroyed by fire, 1936 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.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41777225 BUNDABERG FIRE. The Cairns Post Qld. 24 November 1936 9 December 2011 7 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".http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article62770089 £200,000 DAMAGE. Townsville Daily Bulletin Qld. 23 November 1936 9 December 2011 5 National Library of Australiathumb|Fish killed by spillage in the Millaquin Distillery fire 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.Bundaberg Distilling Co Bundaberg Distilling Co. Ltd. Records, 1907-1946 1907 https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/200349821 15 April 2018 See also Queensland History of Queensland References External links Bundaberg Rum – 1936 Bundaberg Rum Distillery Bundaberg Distilling Company -24.8543 152.3665 type:event_region:AU-QLD title Category:1936 disasters in Australia Category:1930s fires in Oceania Category:1936 fires Category:Bundaberg Category:Disasters in Queensland Category:Building and structure fires in Australia Category:Industrial fires and explosions in Australia Category:1930s in Queensland Category:1936 explosions Category:November 1936 in Australia