The burning investigation into whether the 2013 NSW infernos were deliberate

By Tim Elliot
Updated November 27 2016 - 8:50am, first published 8:47am
Flames sweep towards the heritage-listed NSW Central Coast town of Catherine Hill Bay on October 12, 2013. Photo: Jonathan Carroll
Flames sweep towards the heritage-listed NSW Central Coast town of Catherine Hill Bay on October 12, 2013. Photo: Jonathan Carroll

It started small, just a handful of embers hiding in the hollow of a scribbly gum tree. Twelve metres high and perhaps 60 years old, the tree stood amid thick bush south of Lake Macquarie, on the NSW Central Coast, burled and knotty and gnawed by time. On September 30, 2013, it was set alight, along with the surrounding forest, during backburning, a defensive measure against a larger fire that had broken out earlier that day to the east. 

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

$0/

(min cost $0)

or signup to continue reading

See subscription options

Get the latest Wodonga news in your inbox

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.

We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy.