Fire causes $100,000 damage at Pinnaroo’s Golden Grain Hotel

The Golden Grain Hotel in South Australia’s Mallee is expected to keep operating with minimal disruption after a laundry fire damaged the century-old Pinnaroo venue in the early hours of 16 October.

Damage to the Railway Terrace hotel has been estimated at $100,000, but all occupants evacuated safely before firefighters arrived and the blaze was stopped from reaching other parts of the building.

Three Country Fire Service (CFS) trucks carrying about 12 volunteer firefighters were called to the hotel at 3.15am following a Triple Zero call.

Crews arrived to find fire in the laundry that was spreading into the adjoining lounge area. Firefighters contained the blaze within an hour and prevented it from spreading further through the historic building.

While the fire was confined to the laundry and lounge area, smoke damaged two additional rooms. Despite the damage, the CFS said it is anticipated the hotel will be able to continue functioning with minimal disruption.

Fire cause investigators were due to attend the site later that morning to determine how the fire started. The cause has not been released.

The Golden Grain Hotel is a century-old pub on Railway Terrace in Pinnaroo, a farming town in the state’s Mallee region.

Jonathan Jackson, 21st October 2026