An abandoned building in the middle of Canberra's inner north caught fire in the early hours of Tuesday morning, destroying the roof. The building on Wakefield Gardens, behind Ainslie shops, was the centre of a petition to revive the space and return it to community use.
Independent MLA Thomas Emerson said it was sad to see the old building burnt through, with the structure so unstable it was unlikely to be repaired. He said while community members had been divided over whether the building should be saved or torn down and rebuilt, the fire had now made the decision for them.
"This is what happens when you leave a building abandoned for 20 years," he said.
Full article here: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/9044070/canberras-wakefield-gardens-building-engulfed-in-fire/