Historic Richmond River High School Reduced to Ashes in Suspicious Blaze

A significant piece of local history has been lost to flames as the abandoned Richmond River High School campus in North Lismore, New South Wales, was destroyed in a suspicious fire on Friday evening. The school, which first opened its doors in 1920, had remained unused since sustaining extensive damage during the floods of 2022.

Principal Luke Woodward of Rivers Secondary College expressed his sorrow over the devastating event, stating, “With heavy hearts, we wake up to the aftermath of the fire at our Lake St site, where sadly the flames have ravaged our historic, beloved building.”

Emergency services responded promptly to reports of the fire at approximately 6:30 PM, as a large blaze engulfed a two-storey timber structure located at the front of the school. Mr. Woodward extended his gratitude to the firefighters, praising their relentless efforts in preventing the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings. “Their tireless efforts have truly been nothing short of miraculous,” he noted.

At the height of the blaze, more than 50 firefighters and ten fire trucks were deployed by Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) to combat the challenging fire, underscoring the scale of the emergency response. The loss of the historic building marks a tragic chapter for the community, as residents mourn the destruction of a cherished landmark.