Details:

Fire which began in M. Ellis's store at 4.30 am on a windy (westerly) night 'swept all the houses from there to Stallard's bakery'. 'Only the most strenuous efforts of the miners and others' saved other buildings. The fire was regarded as suspicious and an 'inquest' was to be held.

Five buildings were destroyed, with damage estimated at £4,000: M. Ellis's store; T. James's house; Prussing's Miners' Arms Hotel; Brace's store; F. Stallard's bakery. It also threatened the government buildings and Cottier's Temperance Boarding House opposite, and the Post Office was 'very much scorched'.

Sources:

Nelson Evening Mail , 19 Feb 1883, p. 2 ('Serious fire at Collingwood').