1936 Bundaberg distillery fire

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On 21 November 1936, lightning struck the Bundaberg Rum Distillery in Bundaberg, Queensland, starting a massive fire. An explosion followed and 63 vats of rum, each holding 10,000 gallons, fed the flames. A large crowd watched as police cordoned off the area because of the intense heat. The glow could be seen from as far as Childers and Gin Gin. By midnight the blaze was under control, but the building was ruined. The damage was about £200,000. There were no deaths or injuries. The distillery, owned by the Millaquin Sugar Company, was rebuilt in three years and is still operating on the same site today. The fire also damaged wildlife in the nearby Burnett River, with thousands of fish, including sharks, cod, salmon and barramundi, washing up on the banks. The State Library of Queensland holds original records related to the fire for Bundaberg Distilling Co. Ltd.