Iconic Murrah Hall survives Coolagolite fire on NSW South Coast

Committee members of the Murrah Hall, 14km south of Bermagui, said they have mixed feelings of relief and shock in the aftermath of the Coolagolite fire, which broke out and spread to surrounding areas including the Murrah in the afternoon of October 3.

"It feels a bit miraculous really," Murrah Hall treasurer Rosie Watt said.

"We had recently celebrated the hall's 120^th anniversary, so to see it still standing with all its history is amazing."

Ms Watt said the committee was thankful to the volunteer fire fighters who had helped save the building as well as the community members that had helped them prepare the property.

"It's history will remain for future generations and this will be a story we can tell, thanks to our wonderful fire brigade members who volunteer their time," she said.

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Ms Watt said several of the neighbouring property owners, one of which was a fire fighter, had helped the committee prepare the community hall in the lead up to the fire.

"Over the last year our neighbours have spent a lot of time clearing away all the trees around the fence line, removing any logs and making sure there wasn't any debris lying around," she said.

Ms Watt said the committee had been maintaining the property consistently in the lead up to the fires, which included renovations to the hall itself.

"We have spent the last few years renovating the hall, putting new weather boards, fresh paint and everything else so there's been a lot of working going into it," she said.

"We then spent that extra time maintaining the land around the hall, which really helped."

Ms Watt said the committee had been worried about more than just the survival of the hall during the fire, with a few members' homes being affected as well.

"A few of the committee members had some pretty hairy situations with their own houses, but thankfully their homes are still standing as well," she said.

Ms Watt said stepping back and seeing the outcome of the whole situation with the hall having survived, she mostly felt relief.

"Our president has been our there a couple of times since it burnt and I know for him, knowing that it's still there and still a safe place to go to was just a massive relief," she said.

Ms Watt said while some members had been out to check on the property, they weren't able to assess the full damage yet.

"We'll probably go out there in a week or so, meet up and just give each other a big hug," she said.

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