UPDATE: EDDIE McGuire says he tried to contact Dane Swan about the fire that was ripping through the South Melbourne pub he part-owns, as police investigate criminal links to the arson attack.
“At 9.30 the phone rings and it’s Swanny. I’d sent him a text … he was blissfully unaware about everything until about 9.30 yesterday morning, and then of course things sprung into action,” McGuire said today.
“A great man who is very disappointed this morning, like everybody else.”
Thugs wearing balaclavas torched the landmark pub about 6.30am yesterday.
Swan and his partners in the expensively refurbished Albion hotel — including businessman Matt Darcy, brother of media identity and ex-AFL player Luke, and retired Melbourne Storm players Robbie Kearns and Danny Williams — are said to be mystified as to why it was an arson target just 11 days ahead of its reopening.
An MFB spokesman said the damage to the pub — formerly Motel nightclub — was so severe it may have to be demolished.
He estimated the damage bill as being “in the millions”.
Luke Darcy today said he was tasked with informing his brother, who runs the Darcy Group, about the fire.
Luke said yesterday’s events were an incredible shock to all involved, but he believes they will potentially rebuild the venue.
“I woke (Mark) up out of bed yesterday when that news came though,” he said on Triple M.
“I think they’ll go through insurance (and rebuild). The building is in real danger of having to be demolished, so they’ll work that out over the next couple of days.
“Hopefully it will be a brand new sparkling venue in 12 months time, but more than that, let’s hope the police can do their job accurately and find out exactly why and exactly who.”
At 6.30am, the site foreman stumbled upon the two masked arsonists in a stairwell near where they had started the fire.
He was punched in the face and the offenders fled as flames started to race through the York St building.
The foreman rushed outside and called emergency services within minutes of being attacked.
Detective Acting Senior-Sergeant Dave Cox said: “the male victim has woken up to find the premises ablaze.’’
Asked whether the owners had been recently threatened, Det Sen-Sgt Cox said: “there’s a number of inquiries that have been taking place via witnesses that are providing evidence.
“Specific threats or anything like that are subject to ongoing investigations. We’ll keep an open mind.”
Standover tactics were not part of initial police inquiries, he said.
About 80 firefighters took two and a half hours to control the blaze, which started on the first floor before quickly engulfing the historic three-storey building.
Surrounding premises including a gas depot were evacuated and MFB crews were forced back in some areas amid fears the hotel would collapse
Police combed nearby streets for CCTV in a bid to identify the offenders.
They also packed hard drives into evidence bags.
The Albion, extensively refitted over several months, was due to reopen on Friday week.
Photos on The Albion’s social media page show Swan promoting the October 16 opening.
It had already built up social media buzz where it was being touted as Melbourne’s “newest and highly anticipated rooftop bar, live entertainment venue, event space”.
Swan, who on Friday will attend Collingwood’s best and fairest before the next day flying with partner Taylor Wilson to Bali for teammate Scott Pendlebury’s wedding, had told the Herald Sun of his excitement about The Albion.
“I’ve never been involved in something like this and the opportunity came up with the right people,’’ he said.
“It’s good for life after footy — I’m a lot closer to the end. It will be a new and exciting venue.”
VIDEO
http://media.theage.com.au/news/national-news/aerial-vision-fire-engulfs-south-melbourne-hotel-6901684.html
Source
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/huge-fire-at-the-albion-formerly-motel-in-south-melbourne/story-fni0fit3-1227557060607