A woman has been arrested and charged after a suspicious fire tore through the Albury Central Motel on Young Street, leaving the Indian-Australian owners devastated and several long-term residents temporarily homeless.
Emergency services were called to the property in the early hours of Saturday, 12 October 2025, following reports of smoke and flames. Fire and Rescue NSW crews battled the blaze for several hours before bringing it under control. Several rooms were destroyed, with others suffering severe smoke and water damage.
No fatalities were reported, but one person was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.
According to The Border Mail, police arrested a woman later the same day and charged her with intentionally causing a fire and damaging property. The incident has been deemed “suspicious,” and investigations by the Murray River Police District continue.
The motel’s owner — an Indian-Australian who had operated the business for years — described the fire as a “racist attack,” claiming the accused woman had hurled racial slurs at staff before the fire broke out.
“She wasn’t homeless or part of a housing program — she was a regular paying customer. If this was about mental illness, why did she pack up her bags and leave after the fire? Why target us? Why not her own home?” the owner said, alleging that the accused “displayed racist behaviour” before the incident.
The owner, who asked not to be named for safety reasons, said the fire had displaced several vulnerable tenants, including families and pensioners living in the motel long-term.
“This has left people with nowhere to go. They’ve lost everything — their clothes, belongings, even their ID documents. We came to this country believing in fairness and safety, but this feels like targeted hate.”
Locals described seeing heavy smoke blanketing the area as emergency crews arrived. One witness told reporters that residents were evacuated just minutes before the fire spread through the lower floor.
While police have not confirmed any racial motive, the comments have reignited debate about rising racism and safety concerns for Indian-Australian business owners in regional areas.
The woman accused of starting the fire is reportedly receiving treatment in a mental health facility. Community advocates say that while mental health is an important factor, accountability should not be ignored.
“Mental health should never be used to erase racist intent or harm,” one supporter posted online. “Justice must be seen for the victims who lost their livelihoods.”
The Murray River Police District has confirmed that detectives are liaising with Fire and Rescue NSW and forensic specialists to determine the exact cause of the blaze.
The Albury Central Motel remains closed while safety assessments and repairs are underway.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
