Smoke over Moggill drew nearby residents toward Livesay Road on Mother’s Day morning as fire tore through a historic Queenslander known for hosting opera and music theatre events, destroying the home.
Emergency crews were called to the property at about 10:20 a.m. on 10 May after multiple triple-zero calls reported the two-storey house fully engulfed in flames. According to the Queensland Fire Department, firefighters arrived to find the blaze already well established, and the building later collapsed inward due to the intensity of the flames.
Five fire crews worked to contain the fire while residents gathered outside nearby homes as smoke spread across the western Brisbane suburb. The fire was extinguished by about 11:30 a.m., but the property could not be saved.
Witnesses Report Hearing Explosions Before Crews Arrived
People living near the property reported hearing loud explosion sounds before emergency crews arrived.
One witness from neighbouring Anstead reported hearing what sounded like an explosion from about a kilometre away. The witness said people near the scene called out because they feared someone might be inside.
Locals gathered near the property before emergency crews moved bystanders behind a safety perimeter. Nearby residents also feared the flames could spread to surrounding homes.
Further explosion sounds were reportedly heard during the fire, and one witness said glass was blown from the front door and windows. Officials have not confirmed what caused the reported sounds.
Woodwinds Park Known for Music and Theatre Gatherings
The property, understood to have been built in 1881, was known as Woodwinds Park and had hosted opera and music theatre events on its grounds over the years.
Photos and videos of the fire circulated on community social media pages throughout Sunday as residents reacted to the destruction of the historic home.
The property’s reported age and history of public events gave the fire a wider community impact beyond the loss of a private residence.
Residents Away During Blaze
Authorities said the occupants were not home when the fire began.
The Queensland Ambulance Service confirmed one person was taken to St Andrew’s Hospital following the blaze.
#Moggill – A stable patient has been transported to Saint Andrew's Hospital with a medical condition following a house fire on Livesay Road at 10.12am.
— Queensland Ambulance (@QldAmbulance) May 10, 2026
Several dogs were also reportedly removed from the property during the emergency response, although officials have not confirmed whether any animals were injured.
Cause of Fire Remains Under Investigation
Police later declared the site a crime scene as part of the investigation into the cause of the fire. Authorities have not identified a cause or suggested anyone was responsible.
The blaze was one of two serious house fires reported in southeast Queensland on Sunday, with another major fire destroying a home on Russell Island.
On Livesay Road, the fire left a property understood to be more than 140 years old destroyed within hours.
Published 11-May-2026
