Raging inferno destroys iconic Hawkesbury restaurant
The Hawkesbury River’s iconic Peats Bite restaurant was destroyed by fire on Tuesday.
The family-owned waterfront restaurant at Berowra Waters had been owned by the family for 40 years, before it went up in a massive blaze just after 7.30pm on Tuesday.
The inferno began to spread to nearby bushland forcing firefighters to bring in boat brigades to help battle the flames.
According to Rural Fire Service Inspector Ben Shepherd, over 50 firefighters battled the blaze for two hours, extinguishing it by around 10pm.
“The brigades were ferrying firefighters from a nearby reserve but the boats were attached to the wharf nearby to attach the pumps to the water so there were numerous trips conducted over the evening,” Insp Shepherd said.
The building was first established in 1982 but was destroyed despite firefighters’ efforts.
The nearby accommodation was saved.
“It will take fire investigators some time to work through the rubble and try to figure out where it came from.”
Inspector Shepherd said the local community was devastated by the news.
“I think with many people looking to actually return to the restaurants once we are out of lockdown, I think there was a real sense of loss.”
No one was injured in the fire and all residents have been accounted for.
Irit Jackson, 8th September 2021
