Once popular, now derelict, Albert Park restaurant goes up in smoke
A suspicious blaze at an abandoned Albert Park Lake event space in Melbourne is being investigated, just as owner Parks Victoria was close to signing off on a tenant.
The fire at The Point along Aquatic Dr was lit early Friday morning. As the dining venue was “temporarily closed”, no one was found inside at the time of the fire.
The fire engulfed the upper storey of the building as Fire Rescue Victoria crews spent 30 minutes bringing the inferno under control at around 3.30am.
“At this stage the fire is being treated as suspicious and a crime scene has been established,” a Victoria Police spokesman said.
The Point was abandoned in 2021 but has been managed by Park Victoria since. Despite daily patrols, the building had been damaged and defaced and was allegedly the site of underground rave party this month. Approximately 150 young people were in attendance before the Public Order Response Team and local police shut the party down on August 11.
Speaking about the fire to the Herald Sun, Parks Victoria regional director Sofia De Lesantis said, “We are working to assess the damage and will take decisive steps to prevent such events in the future.
“We are actively cooperating with Victoria Police as they investigate this matter.”
Former Melbourne Football Club president Paul Gardner who saw police in action in the morning said, “It just hasn’t worked…the function centre always seemed to be pretty busy.
“It doesn’t surprise us, though, because every time we come down here there’s always something different — graffiti, a window broken,” he told The Herald Sun.
“It’s terribly tragic, it’s a lovely part of the world.
“It’s great for a lot of people who live around here and enjoy it…it’s a shame.
“Hopefully someone will get into it eventually and turn it into something that will attract more people.”
Meanwhile, City of Port Philip councillor Marcus Pearl said of what he has described as “the jewel in the crown” of Albert Park.
“It’s incredibly frustrating and it’s a sad state of affairs — this building has been derelict for some time.
“The state government has not looked after it or held their duties, they haven’t kept the building secure and they haven’t kept it in good order.
“It’s an open invitation for vandals and arsonists to come and destroy what is a Victorian asset.”
The property is currently owned by the Victorian government.
“They had ample opportunity to secure this building, and ultimately it’s been millions of dollars now of taxpayers money that’s been wasted because they couldn’t secure it,” Pearl said.
Jonathan Jackson, 19th August 2024
