11 hours ago
Devastated owner of $15million Toorak mansion destroyed in 'suspicious' fire points the finger: 'Petrol all over it'
The devastated owner of a $15million mansion destroyed in a 'suspicious' fire says he is scratching his head over who may have started the blaze.
Gerry Hoggard, the boss of building company Sperway Homes, has been left heartbroken after his Toorak home went up in flames about 12.20am on Friday.
Mr Hoggard has already spent millions renovating the mansion, which he bought for $7.1million in 2021, with three years of hard work destroyed in just minutes.
The renovations marked the first time the construction boss, who has been in the industry for over 45 years, has ever built a home for himself.
Mr Hoggard claimed petrol had been poured 'over every floor and every room'.
'I don't know who would have done it,' he told The Australian.
'But I can tell you that by the extent of the fire, and knowing how it's built, somebody has put accelerant all over the building.'
It's understood nobody was living in the property on the exclusive St Georges Road while the renovations were underway.
Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) said the response was escalated after crews arrived to find smoke and flames coming from the two-storey house.
It took firefighters an hour to bring the blaze under control with the building sustaining significant structural collapse due to the intensity of the fire.
The cause of the blaze will be investigated by FRV specialists and Victoria Police.
'Investigations are ongoing into the exact cause of the fire, which is believed to be suspicious at this stage,' police said in a statement on Friday.
'An arson chemist will attend the scene this morning.'
Mr Hoggard is the owner and managing director of Sperway Homes, which has locatons in Sydney and Melbourne, and Extension Factory.
Anyone who witnessed the fire has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
