Almost two years after fire destroyed Winton's Waltzing Matilda Centre, the tribute to one of Australia's most popular poets is expected to reopen in time for the much-loved tourist attraction to celebrate it's 20th anniversary.
On June 18, 2015, fire broke out in the the central-west Queensland town, destroying the museum that was the first in the world dedicated to a song, Waltzing Matilda, written by Banjo Paterson in 1895.
Legend has it the song was first performed in public at the North Gregory Hotel in Winton.
Mayor Butch Lenton said the start of the $22 million restoration had given the whole town a lift, after nearly all of the centre was destroyed.
The blaze in the early hours of the morning was started by an electrical fault in a storeroom. The main complex and cafe were destroyed, but the rear section was saved along with precious antiques.
The local community banded together after the fire along with strangers who came to Winton to help restore parts of the centre, which Mr Lenton said was the "great thing about it".
A total of 16 jobs were also lost with the destruction of the centre, which Mr Lenton said was a lot in a small community such as Winton.
Mr Lenton said the town had fought to secure extra funding for the rebuild from both the Queensland and Australian governments.
"We wanted to make something that was iconic again and for that we needed extra funding," he said.
"It's just great to see the rebuild beginning."
The restoration was expected to be completed by April 2018 and Mr Lenton hoped it would attract more tourists back to the town to explore local history.
This story first appeared on Brisbane Times.
