Tarnished treasure: Firefighters attend the blaze at the historic Ballam Park Homestead. Picture: DARRYL
GREGORY |
Ballam Park Homestead Fire - 15 March 1994 - - |
The Ballam Park Homestead - attacked by arsonists. |
Herald Sun, Monday, March 15, 1994 (PM Edition) Fire damages historic home Arstonists set fire to a historic home today, causing up to $100.000 damage.CFA Fire Officer John Smith said the Frankston fire was lit on the front verandah of the 140-year-old Ballam Park Homestead in Cranbourne Rd about 3.30am. It quickly spread to the roof, damaging a dining room and music room. Six fire trucks took 20 minutes to put out the fire. Mr Smith said the historic nature of the house and its contents meant damage could be well over $100,000. The president of the homestead's management committee, Mr. John Sawyer, could offer no reason for the attack. "I'm still a bit shocked ....to be involved in something for years and then have this happen," he said. "we can fix the building but there were a lot of artifacts in there that were irreplacable." Mr. Sawyer said the homestead, built in the 1850s by pioneer Wilbur Lliardet, was believed to be the first brick house in the area. It was restored during the 1960s and classified by the National Trust. The arson squad is investigating. by BRAD NEWSOME |
Fire rips into our historic homestead by Andrew Kelly One of Frankston's oldest buildings was almost destroyed by a deliberately lit fire on Monday last week. The fire badly damaged the verandah, dining room, music room and an upstairs bedroom of the 140 year-old Ballam Park Homestead on Cranbourne Rd. The fire also destroyed artificats over 100 years old, which Frankston Historical Society President Mr. John Sawyer said was the most devastating aspect of the fire. The fire brigade was called to the scene when a resident nearby heard an unusual sound coming from her back yard at about 2.30am. When she went outside she saw the homestead was on fire and immediately called 000. Six brigade units arrived just minutes later and contained the blaze within 20 minutes. Mr. Sawyer said he couldn't believe someone would deliberately destroy such a part of their local history. "We wont have any trouble putting the building back together but the artifacts will never be replaced," Mr. Sawyer said. "We are currently making a list of the missing items and its going to be quite heartbreaking once its been fully compiled. Thankfully the baby grand piano looks like it will be saved. "Once we have assessed all the damage thoroughly and the insurance companies and the like have carried out their duties, we will have to start an appeal. "Some of our volunteers have been here since day one in the 1960s and they've watched the homestead go from being quite run down to a work of art. "The homestead has never looked better than it did when it was set on fire. "The person responsible for the fire must have someting very wrong with them. "It's (the fire) not just a heartbreak for us but for the whole commiunity," he said. |
THE INDEPENDENT, Tuesday, March 22, 1994 - Page 3 |
THE INDEPENDENT, Tuesday, March 22, 1994 - Page 3 |