In a situation that is currently unfolding, the General Gordon Hotel in Sydenham is presently ablaze, with its roof having partially collapsed.
UPDATE: Fire and Rescue NSW have now confirmed that the roof and one major external wall on the second floor have completely collapsed (see imagery below).
SYDENHAM | #FRNSW crews have brought the fire at Burrows Ave under control. Two aerials are still at work and more than 70 firefighters remain on scene. pic.twitter.com/d9ZNuJRNpi
— Fire and Rescue NSW (@FRNSW) July 30, 2018
Firefighters were called to the inner west Sydney pub just after 1pm, and there are currently more than six crews fighting to get the blaze under control. Television footage shows that the much of the hotel has been destroyed or damaged, including a partial collapse of the building’s roof.
There is currently no word on how the blaze was caused, or whether any staff or patrons have been injured, however the pub and neighbouring buildings have now been evacuated. Trains are also no longer stopping at nearby Sydenham station.
With firefighters still getting the blaze under control, NSW Police have suggested it is too early to determine its cause.
The hotel was purchased JDA Hotels in February 2017 for $18.1m, as part of the divestment of the publicly-listed Lantern Hotels portfolio. General Gordon Hotel was currently in the middle of a major refurbishment of the pub, with a brand new kitchen and beer garden being installed, and work currently underway on the hotel’s bistro space. The pub’s Facebook page had been updated on Sunday with imagery of the refurbishment underway.
TheShout will update this story as more information becomes available.