Latest news with #Toorak
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
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.
ABC News
11 hours ago
- General
- ABC News
St Georges Road mansion in Toorak destroyed by blaze
A home under renovation on St Georges Road in Toorak has collapsed after a fiercely burning blaze.
News.com.au
11 hours ago
- General
- News.com.au
Massive mansion destroyed by fire in affluent Melbourne suburb
A two-storey mansion in an prestigious suburb of Melbourne's east has gone up in flames in the early hours of Friday morning. Fire Rescue Victoria was called to the large property on the corner of St Georges Rd and Ultimo CT in Toorak about 12.20am Friday after the home was engulfed in flames. Emergency services were on the scene within five minutes to extinguish the fire, which had overwhelmed both storeys of the mansion. Smoke billowed from the roof and flames grew so high they were visible from neighbouring properties. Smoke was so thick crews were forced to wear breathing apparatus, but managed to stop the fire spreading to adjoining properties. No one was injured in the fire. 'There were no occupants home at the time of the fire as it appears the house is undergoing renovations,' an FRV statement read. 'There has also been significant structural collapse due to the intensity of the fire.' Residents nearby were warned of visible smoke spreading around the community as crews worked to control the flames. 'There is no immediate threat to the community and no action is required, but local residents should be aware of the possibility of smoke and embers in the area,' FRV wrote online. The fire was declared under control shortly after 1am. 'Firefighters will remain on scene to ensure the fire is fully extinguished,' the FRV statement read. An investigation in to the cause of the fire has been launched.
ABC News
13 hours ago
- General
- ABC News
Toorak mansion destroyed in overnight blaze in inner Melbourne
A two-storey home in the prestigious suburb of Toorak, in inner Melbourne, has collapsed after it was engulfed in flames in the early hours of Friday. Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) said crews arrived at the St Georges Road mansion within five minutes of being called about 12:18am to find flames throughout both levels. More crews were called in to help fight the blaze and to stop it from spreading to neighbouring properties, which an FRV spokesperson said were "under significant ember attack". No-one was at home at the time as it was undergoing renovations. FRV said the home collapsed due to the intensity of the fire. It took about 45 minutes to bring the blaze under control. The cause of the fire was yet to be determined with FRV specialists and police to investigate. Firefighters remained on scene throughout the night to ensure the fire was fully extinguished.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
‘Contaminated': Ritzy suburb's Coles clip goes viral
A cheeky pigeon has been caught indulging in a free lunch at a Coles supermarket in one of Melbourne's most up-market suburbs. Footage shared online shows the bird perched on the edge of a scoop & weight bin at the Toorak store and dipping its head in for a mouthful of almonds – seemingly unfazed by nearby shoppers. The bird can then be seen nestling into the almonds and getting comfortable as it continues to pick at them. The video, which has quickly done the rounds on social media, has sparked lighthearted reactions, with some users labelling the bird as 'cute and clever.' 'The cost of living is impacting everyone, even birds have to stoop to the lowest of lows,' joked one. 'They're so clever. Too cute,' said another. 'He's in heaven! What a sweet little guy,' said a third. However, not everyone was so impressed. 'Don't let it inside the food?!?! Now its contaminated,' complained one. 'That's so nasty,' said another. 'That's SO unsanitary,' said a third. According to strict guidelines from Food Standards Australia and New Zealand, food businesses must keep storage areas clean, dry and free of pests. A spokesperson for Coles told 'While the pigeon in the social media video clearly believed it had discovered the ultimate bird 'buffet' — and may well have hit the pigeon jackpot — we want to reassure customers that maintaining the highest standards of hygiene and food safety in our stores is always our top priority. The spokesperson continued: 'As a food retailer, we work really hard to uphold the highest level of hygiene in our stores and we have numerous measures in place to deter birds from entering our stores in the first place. Occasionally, when birds outsmart our systems, we then ensure a thorough clean is carried out.' The Coles representative added that as soon as the incident in the video occurred, the team helped remove the bird and return it outdoors. They also disposed of the affected almonds and 'thoroughly cleaned and disinfected the scoop and container involved.' The spokesperson added: 'Our pick and mix stations are a popular choice for customers, offering variety and flexibility, and we're continually reviewing and enhancing our protocols to ensure the hygiene is protected at all times.' The pigeon incident comes after a cockatoo nicknamed Mickey became stuck in a Coles supermarket for over four weeks, late last year. The native bird became reportedly trapped inside the store at Macarthur Square in Campbelltown, NSW, after he flew through the loading dock. A Coles spokeswoman told NewsWire at the time that the bird had 'become a friendly fixture in the Macarthur Square shopping centre, and is currently not inside Coles but exploring other areas inside the broader shopping precinct.' 'When the bird entered our store, our team along with external expert wildlife and bird management organisations were working extremely hard to safely and importantly, humanely, relocate the cockatoo to where it belongs, in the outdoors.'
