The historic Kyneton farmhouse owned by television personality Tonia Todman was significantly damaged by fire yesterday morning.
Firefighters arrived at Highbank, on Donnelly Road, at about 6.45am to find the property’s Bed and Breakfast accommodation fully ablaze and spreading to the adjoining homestead.
The fire started in the roof, with a five-layer ceiling – tin on top of shingles and under that insulation, sisiliation and ceiling of pine timber – making it difficult for firefighters to access the flames.
The guest accommodation was completely destroyed and the rear third of the main homestead was also impacted by fire. The remainder of the homestead sustained smoke damage.
None of the five occupants of the property, three of whom were guests, were injured.
Concerned that they would not be able to prevent the fire from spreading to the remainder of the home, firefighters salvaged personal belongings of value to the occupants residents.
Brigades turned out from Kyneton, Malmsbury, Tylden, Carlsruhe, Spring Hill and Woodend and a specialist ladder platform was called out from Bendigo.
