The Diggers Rest Hotel, originally built in 1854, was the significant landmark of the town for many years. Visitors identified it on many occasions and it was featured in some of Sunbury Rock Festival footage.
In a fateful October 2008 night, fire has destroyed the causing about a million dollars damage. Fire crews said the building was fully alight when they arrived on the scene just before midnight. Eighteen trucks were called to the fire because the firefighting effort was hampered by poor water supply in the area. The building was well alight when firefighters arrived and took about two hours to get the fire under control,
An ABC photographer, Lloyd Young, took an incredibly photograph of the fire crews dousing the flames.
The fireman who held the hose at the top of the crane was Captain Luke Hynes.
The remains revealed some amazing historical construction, the walls were made from local rocks and concrete and there was literally no wooden framework holding it together. Since then the hotel has been abandoned.
There is a strong suspicion that the fire was deliberately lit. Indeed, eyewitnesses (including myself) saw valuable furniture being removed only hours before the blaze.
However, there has never been any charges laid.
The community deserves answers to the cause and wait patiently for the mystery to be revealed.
